Cosmetics (Commercial)
Can I take Cosmetics (Commercial) across a border? Yes in many places, with conditions. Of the 118 country-rules we've indexed for Cosmetics (Commercial), 114 are allowed (often with limits), 4 are restricted (permit, declaration, or quantity cap), and 0 are prohibited outright. Customs rules depend on the destination, the purpose (travelling, posting, importing personally, or importing commercially), and the quantity.
Commercial cosmetics include makeup, skincare products, perfumes, hair care, and personal hygiene products intended for sale. The global cosmetics trade is a multi-billion dollar industry and products must comply with specific ingredient regulations, labeling requirements, and safety testing standards in each market. Cosmetics are regulated as a distinct category from pharmaceuticals in most countries — they are not required to demonstrate efficacy, but they must demonstrate safety and must not claim medical or drug properties. The boundary between cosmetic and drug claims is significant: a moisturizer that claims to keep skin hydrated is a cosmetic, but one that claims to alter skin cell biology or treat a skin disease is a drug and faces far stricter requirements. Regulatory differences between major markets are substantial. The EU's Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009) maintains a list of over 1,300 prohibited ingredients and requires safety assessments by a qualified person, product information files held by a responsible person based in the EU, and notification through the EU CPNP portal. The US FDA regulates cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, requires labeling in English with full INCI ingredient names, but does not require pre-market approval or safety assessments, relying instead on post-market surveillance. China historically required animal testing for imported cosmetics, creating an ethical barrier for cruelty-free brands — cross-border e-commerce (via platforms like Tmall Global) and general trade cosmetics now have different pathways. Japan's Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act applies to cosmetics and cosmeceuticals with specific ingredient approval lists. Retinoids, hydroquinone, and certain sunscreen UV filters are approved in some markets but not others, creating significant compliance complexity for global brands.
Common mistakes with Cosmetics (Commercial)
- Assuming the rules at the origin apply at the destination — they don't. The destination customs authority is the binding rule.
- Travelling and posting are treated differently: an item you can carry may be prohibited by post (and vice versa).
- Personal vs commercial intent: above a quantity threshold, customs may treat your shipment as commercial regardless of intent.
- Undervaluing on the customs declaration to avoid duty — treated as fraud in most jurisdictions.
- Vague item descriptions on CN22/CN23 — biggest single cause of postal customs holds.
- Missing required certificates (phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, prescription, product compliance).
Always verify against the destination's customs authority before acting. Not legal advice.
HS codes
Regulatory trend
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1223 — EU Cosmetics Regulation ongoing ingredient bans; China CSAR 2021 new registration rules
General notes
Status by country (traveling)
Also documented for posting & importing
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Thailand
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Vietnam
- Japan
- South Korea
- China
- India
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Oman
- Germany
- France
- Spain
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Austria
- Ireland
- Portugal
- Greece
- Poland
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Romania
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Switzerland
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Argentina
- Chile
- Colombia
- Peru
- South Africa
- Turkey
- United States
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Japan
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Thailand
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Vietnam
- South Korea
- China
- India
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Oman
- France
- Spain
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Belgium
- Austria
- Ireland
- Portugal
- Greece
- Poland
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Romania
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Switzerland
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Argentina
- Chile
- Colombia
- Peru
- South Africa
- Turkey
Rules by country and purpose
Carrying in personal luggage
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇺🇸 United States
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇦 Canada
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇺 Australia
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇳🇿 New Zealand
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇹🇭 Thailand
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇸🇬 Singapore
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇲🇾 Malaysia
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇩 Indonesia
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇭 Philippines
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇯🇵 Japan
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇰🇷 South Korea
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇳 China
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇳 India
No specific restrictions for personal cosmetics (commercial)
Sending by post
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇺🇸 United States
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to United States; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to United Kingdom; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇦 Canada
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Canada; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇺 Australia
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Australia; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to New Zealand; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇹🇭 Thailand
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Thailand; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇸🇬 Singapore
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Singapore; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Malaysia; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Indonesia; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇭 Philippines
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Philippines; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Vietnam; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇯🇵 Japan
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Japan; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇰🇷 South Korea
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to South Korea; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇳 China
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to China; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇳 India
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to India; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Hong Kong; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Taiwan; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to United Arab Emirates; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Saudi Arabia; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇶🇦 Qatar
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Qatar; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇰🇼 Kuwait
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Kuwait; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Bahrain; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇴🇲 Oman
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Oman; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇩🇪 Germany
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Germany; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇫🇷 France
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to France; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇪🇸 Spain
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Spain; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇹 Italy
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Italy; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Netherlands; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇧🇪 Belgium
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Belgium; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇹 Austria
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Austria; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇪 Ireland
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Ireland; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇹 Portugal
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Portugal; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇬🇷 Greece
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Greece; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇱 Poland
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Poland; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Czech Republic; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇭🇺 Hungary
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Hungary; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇷🇴 Romania
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Romania; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇸🇪 Sweden
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Sweden; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇩🇰 Denmark
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Denmark; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇳🇴 Norway
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Norway; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇫🇮 Finland
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Finland; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Switzerland; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇧🇷 Brazil
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Brazil; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇲🇽 Mexico
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Mexico; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇷 Argentina
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Argentina; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇱 Chile
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Chile; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇴 Colombia
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Colombia; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇪 Peru
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Peru; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇿🇦 South Africa
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to South Africa; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇹🇷 Turkey
Personal-quantity cosmetics can be posted to Turkey; product registration applies to selling, not to personal parcels.
Personal importing
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Personal cosmetics from duty-free within allowance
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇯🇵 Japan
Personal imports limited to 24 items standard size
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇺🇸 United States
Duty-free under $800; no FDA pre-approval for personal use
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇦 Canada
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Canada without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇺 Australia
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Australia without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to New Zealand without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇹🇭 Thailand
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Thailand without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇸🇬 Singapore
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Singapore without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Malaysia without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Indonesia without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇭 Philippines
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Philippines without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Vietnam without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇰🇷 South Korea
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to South Korea without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇳 China
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to China without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇳 India
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to India without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Hong Kong without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Taiwan without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to United Arab Emirates without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Saudi Arabia without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇶🇦 Qatar
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Qatar without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇰🇼 Kuwait
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Kuwait without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Bahrain without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇴🇲 Oman
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Oman without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇩🇪 Germany
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Germany without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇫🇷 France
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to France without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇪🇸 Spain
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Spain without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇹 Italy
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Italy without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Netherlands without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇧🇪 Belgium
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Belgium without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇹 Austria
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Austria without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇮🇪 Ireland
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Ireland without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇹 Portugal
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Portugal without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇬🇷 Greece
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Greece without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇱 Poland
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Poland without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Czech Republic without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇭🇺 Hungary
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Hungary without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇷🇴 Romania
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Romania without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇸🇪 Sweden
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Sweden without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇩🇰 Denmark
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Denmark without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇳🇴 Norway
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Norway without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇫🇮 Finland
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Finland without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Switzerland without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇧🇷 Brazil
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Brazil without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇲🇽 Mexico
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Mexico without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇦🇷 Argentina
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Argentina without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇱 Chile
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Chile without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇨🇴 Colombia
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Colombia without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇵🇪 Peru
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Peru without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇿🇦 South Africa
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to South Africa without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Cosmetics (Commercial)
🇹🇷 Turkey
Personal-use cosmetics can be shipped to Turkey without product registration; ordinary duty and import-tax rules apply.
Commercial importing
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