Since Brexit, Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) has its own cosmetics regulatory framework separate from the EU. Northern Ireland continues to follow EU rules under the Windsor Framework. For most skincare brands, this means maintaining separate compliance tracks — and two sets of notifications — for EU and UK markets.
The UK retained the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 as domestic law at the point of Brexit. It is now the UK Cosmetics Regulation, enforced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local Trading Standards authorities. The substance of the regulation is very similar to the EU version, but key administrative requirements diverge: UK notification is via the UK Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications (SCPN) system, and a UK-based Responsible Person is required for Great Britain.
Before placing a cosmetic on the UK (Great Britain) market, the UK Responsible Person must submit via the SCPN portal at scpn.businesscompanion.info. The notification requires similar information to the CPNP: product name, category, frame formulation or full formulation, label image, and nanomaterial information where applicable. Critically, your EU CPNP notification does not count for GB — you must notify separately.
A UK-established Responsible Person is required for all cosmetics sold in Great Britain. If your EU distributor was your EU RP, you need a separate UK RP for GB. Options: appoint your UK distributor or importer as UK RP, use a specialist UK RP service, or establish a UK legal entity. The UK RP's name and UK address must appear on the label — 'Made in EU' addresses no longer satisfy this for GB.
UK cosmetic labels must be in English. Required elements: UK Responsible Person name and address, country of origin for non-UK manufactured products, nominal content, date of minimum durability or PAO symbol, precautions, batch number, function, and full INCI ingredient list. Post-Brexit, products must use UK-specific allergen labelling (aligned with EU 2023 rules as the UK updates its list) and cannot display CE marks or EU RP addresses in place of UK equivalents.
Northern Ireland remains aligned with EU cosmetics law under the Windsor Framework. Products sold in Northern Ireland can use EU CPNP notification and EU RPs. If you're selling across the whole of the UK, you need: EU CPNP notification + EU RP for Northern Ireland, and UK SCPN notification + UK RP for Great Britain. Most brands manage this by appointing separate RPs for each territory.
Boots (largest UK pharmacy and beauty retailer), Superdrug, ASOS Beauty, Marks & Spencer, Liberty London, Cult Beauty, and Look Fantastic (online). Premium skincare brands find strong traction at Space NK and independent boutiques. Amazon UK is significant for established mid-market skincare brands — see our dedicated Amazon UK skincare guide for compliance specifics.
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