How to Submit a UK Cosmetic Notification (SCPN)

Quick Answer

In Great Britain, cosmetic products must be notified through the government's Submit cosmetic product notifications (SCPN) service before they are placed on the market. The notification is submitted by the Responsible Person, who must be established in the UK. Gather your information first: product category and name, Responsible Person details, where the PIF is kept, an emergency contact, nanomaterial and CMR details, chemical details, an ingredient summary, a label image and a packaging photograph. Having these ready is most of the work.

Step 1: Confirm Who Submits

GOV.UK states that the cosmetic product's Responsible Person can submit the notification, and that this person must be established in the UK. That can be the manufacturer, the importer, a distributor that labels the product as its own, or an appointed company or person authorised by the manufacturer or importer. If you are unsure which applies to you, start with our Responsible Person guide and our guide to importer and distributor duties.

Step 2: Gather the Information

The GOV.UK notification guidance lists what to have ready. Use this as a working checklist:

Because the label image is part of the submission, finalise the label first. Our labelling mistakes guide is a useful last check.

Step 3: Complete the Safety Work Before Notifying

Notification does not replace the safety report. GOV.UK guidance on making products available says that a qualified safety assessor must check the product's safety before it is made available, and that the notification must be submitted before the product is made available. In practice, the CPSR and PIF should be in place before you press submit, so what you notify matches what you hold. See our launch roadmap for the full order of steps.

Step 4: Submit Through the Government Service

For England, Scotland and Wales, GOV.UK says you must notify through the Submit cosmetic product notifications service. The page I reviewed links to the service but does not describe how to register or create an account, so follow the on-screen instructions in the service itself. Northern Ireland has a separate process, covered in our Northern Ireland guide.

Step 5: Keep It Up to Date

Under Article 13 of the Regulation, notified information must be updated without delay when it changes. The GOV.UK page does not cover updating or correcting notifications, so ask your Responsible Person or consult the service itself about how to do this. Reformulations, new packaging or a change of Responsible Person are typical triggers; see keeping your PIF up to date.

Who Can See the Notification?

The guidance says search access to the SCPN database is limited to competent authorities, mainly Trading Standards officers, and the National Poisons Information Service. Your information is not published to the public, but regulators and poison centres can find it quickly if they need to.

Common Mistakes

Mistake #1 — Notifying before the label is final. The label image you submit should match what is on the pack.

Mistake #2 — Skipping nanomaterial or CMR details. The guidance lists both, so check your formula before you start.

Mistake #3 — Notifying with a non-UK address. The Responsible Person must be established in the UK.

Mistake #4 — Forgetting to update after changes. Notified information must stay accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can submit a cosmetic product notification in Great Britain?

GOV.UK says the product's Responsible Person can submit it, and must be established in the UK. That may be the manufacturer, importer, a distributor labelling the product as its own, or an appointed person or company.

What information do I need to notify a product?

GOV.UK lists the product category and name, the Responsible Person's name, where the PIF is kept, a named contact for urgent enquiries, nanomaterial and CMR details, chemical details, an ingredient summary, a label image and a packaging photograph.

When must I notify?

Before the product is placed on the Great Britain market. GOV.UK says products for England, Scotland and Wales must be notified through the Submit cosmetic product notifications service.

Can the public search the notification database?

No. GOV.UK says search access is limited to competent authorities, mainly Trading Standards officers, and the National Poisons Information Service.

Final Word

Notification is a short form at the end of a long process. If the safety report, file and label are right, the submission takes little time; if they are not, the form will expose the gaps. Prepare the information, check it against your file, and only then submit.

Need help with your SCPN notification? NestQual prepares CPSRs, PIFs and notifications, and can act as your Responsible Person.

Get a CPSR for your product See the Complete Compliance Pack

Sources

1. GOV.UK, Submit a cosmetic product notification — gov.uk
2. GOV.UK, Making cosmetic products available to consumers in Great Britain — gov.uk
3. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 13 (notification) — legislation.gov.uk
4. Related guides on this site: CPNP vs SCPN, UK and EU launch roadmap

This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Notification portals and requirements change; confirm the current process with the Submit cosmetic product notifications service, a qualified safety assessor or your Responsible Person. Fees and account registration are not covered here.