What Is the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) UK Process?
The submit cosmetic product notification (SCPN) UK process is the official system for notifying cosmetic products before they are marketed in Great Britain.
Managed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the SCPN ensures that all cosmetic products comply with the UK Cosmetics Regulation derived from EU Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009. Every cosmetic placed on the UK market must be notified through the SCPN to confirm safety, transparency, and traceability.
This article explains how the UK’s Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) system works, who must use it, what information is required, and how to stay compliant with post-Brexit cosmetics legislation.
It also outlines the role of the Responsible Person, key regulatory authorities, and the legal consequences of non-compliance with UK cosmetics laws.
What Is the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) UK System?
The UK Cosmetics Portal is a UK government platform designed for the notification of cosmetic products intended for the UK market. After Brexit, the United Kingdom set up its own notification system, clearly separate from the similar system of the European Union, namely the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP)
As outlined in the UK Cosmetic Regulation, the Responsible Person is obligated to submit the required information confirming the product’s safety to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) through this portal.
This process is known as product notification. Notification through the SCPN UK portal is mandatory for any cosmetic product that is introduced into the market of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and serves to ensure the compliance of products with British regulations.
In this article, we will discuss the registration process, its importance, and how it ensures your products meet the necessary legal requirements for the UK market. To know more about how to achieve regulatory compliance you can read our UK Cosmetic Regulations article.
When Was the SCPN Officially Implemented in the UK?
The requirement to submit cosmetic product notifications to the UK Cosmetics Portal has been in effect since Great Britain’s exit from the European Union in 2021. This applies to England, Scotland, and Wales.
Previously, a single notification to the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP), the European cosmetic portal, was sufficient. Now, to sell cosmetic products in both the EU and the UK, two product notifications are required: CPNP EU and SCPN UK.
What Are the Main Objectives of the SCPN in the UK?
The SCPN is a free online notification system established under Regulation No 1223/2009 for cosmetic products. Its purpose is to ensure the traceability of all cosmetic products on the UK market.
While having an SCPN UK notification number does not confirm compliance with the UK Cosmetics Regulation, Enforcement Authorities, such as Trading Standards Officers, use this portal to verify compliance.
The submitted information is accessible to competent authorities for purposes such as market surveillance, analysis, evaluation, and consumer information. It is also available to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) to support medical treatment.
Who Needs to Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications in the UK?
If you are making a cosmetic product available to consumers in Great Britain, including England, Scotland, and Wales, your Responsible Person must submit a product notification of your cosmetic product through the cosmetics portal UK, the SCPN.
Only a legal entity, called a “Responsible Person” (RP), can submit the notification for a product. This person can be the manufacturer, importer, or a designated representative based in the UK.
How Do You Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications Through the SCPN UK Portal?
To submit a cosmetic product to the SCPN, you must first create an account on the portal. Next, you will need to answer a series of questions about the product.
Before finalising the process, you can review all the uploaded information to ensure accuracy before you submit cosmetic product notification. Once submitted, you will have 7 days to review and edit any data if errors are identified.
If your cosmetic product contains nanomaterials, it must be notified six months before being placed on the market. After completing all required steps, the SCPN will provide a reference number. This reference number must be included in the product’s PIF (Product Information File).
What Information Is Required to Submit a Product Through the SCPN UK?
Among the information required by the SCPN UK at the time of notification are:
- The category of cosmetic product and its name or names, enabling its specific identification.
- The name and address of the UK Responsible Person.
- The address at which the cosmetic product information file (PIF) is kept.
- The contact details of a natural person to contact in the case of urgency.
- If applicable, the following information
(I) The presence of any nanomaterials in the product.
(II) The identification including the chemical name (IUPAC) and other descriptors as specified in point 2 of the Preamble to Annexes 2 to 6 to this Regulation.
(III) The reasonably foreseeable exposure conditions.
- The name and the Chemicals Abstracts Service (CAS) or EC number of substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) of category 1A or 1B under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
- The frame formulation allowing for prompt and appropriate medical treatment in the event of difficulties.
- The original labelling and, where reasonably legible, a photograph of the corresponding packaging.
Once registration is complete, the product receives an SCPN registration number and a PDF report that contains a summary of the information entered. This number is essential for product identification in the event of verification by regulatory authorities.
Are There Any Exemptions or Specific Categories of Cosmetic Products Not Covered by the SCPN?
All cosmetic products must be notified in the SCPN UK portal, without exceptions.
As stated in Article 2 of the UK Cosmetic Regulation, the definition of a cosmetic product comprises three parts: a function, field of application, and product composition. All parts of the definition must be satisfied for the product to be considered a cosmetic.
The Regulation specifies six functions in relation to external parts of the human body for products that may be cosmetic products: to clean, to perfume, to change the appearance, to protect, to keep in good condition and to correct body odours.
Additionally, cosmetics can only be applied to the external parts of the human body: the epidermis, the hair system, the nails, the lips, the external genital organs, the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity.
What Are the Consequences of Non-compliance With SCPN UK Requirements?
Failing to submit cosmetics to the SCPN, the UK cosmetics portal, constitutes non-compliance with the UK Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009. This can result in fines—unlimited in England and Wales or up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland—and a prison term of up to 3 months.
Who Is the Responsible Person Under the SCPN UK System?
The Responsible Person is the individual or company responsible for ensuring the cosmetic product complies with UK Cosmetic Regulations throughout its time on the market. Their contact information must always be kept up to date on the SCPN, as competent authorities may reach out regarding the product.
For foreign cosmetics companies that want to sell in the UK, the requirement to appoint a UK-based Responsible Person presents a new challenge.
Many companies rely on consultants or representative firms to handle registrations and make sure their products meet local requirements. For more details on the role of the Responsible Person, see our article on the Responsible Person in cosmetics.
How Do You Update or Amend Product Notifications in the SCPN System?
Companies are responsible for keeping the information in the SCPN portal up to date. Any changes to a cosmetic product—its formula, label or packaging—must be reassessed to ensure compliance with UK Cosmetic Regulations.
These updates must also be notified to the UK Cosmetics Portal to ensure that product information remains accurate throughout the product’s lifecycle in the UK market.
If the cosmetic product is no longer sold in the UK, the Responsible Person must notify this in the SCPN UK portal to remove products that are no longer distributed.
In summary, the SCPN UK portal is an essential tool to ensure that cosmetics placed on the UK market comply with the safety and transparency standards required by local legislation.
How Does the SCPN Help Ensure Consumer Safety and Market Surveillance?
Through the product notification, the information of the cosmetic product will be accessible to the competent authorities responsible for market surveillance, market analysis, evaluation, and consumer information.
All product details will also be available to the UK Poison Centre, The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS), and similar bodies for medical treatment in case of emergencies.
How Is Confidential Product Information Protected Within the SCPN UK Portal?
The SCPN is an official government database, ensuring that confidential information submitted by the Responsible Person to the cosmetics portal UK is secure and not open to the public. This ensures that the technical and commercial details of the formulations and substances contained in the products are protected.
Only regulatory authorities, such as customs or control officials, can access information to verify a product’s compliance.
What Role Does the UK Cosmetic Portal Play in Regulatory Compliance?
According to the UK Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 (UKCR) for cosmetics marketed in Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland), it is mandatory to notify every cosmetic product in the UK Cosmetic Portal.
Enforcement authorities, such as Trading Standards Officers, can access the SCPN to conduct inspections and verify the compliance of cosmetic products sold in the UK.
Which UK Authorities Oversee and Enforce the SCPN Process?
The UK Cosmetics Regulation is enforced in Great Britain via the UK Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 which specifies the role of the authorities, the penalties and the enforcement process.
The UK Government Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) are the UK Competent Authorities for implementing the legislation for cosmetic products.
The UK cosmetic portal SCPN, as we have seen, is managed by the UK government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). They ensure that the information related to cosmetic products is accurate and compliant with the UK Cosmetic Regulations.
Need Help Submitting Your Cosmetic Product Notification in the UK?
While notifying the SCPN portal is a key regulatory step, it’s only one part of maintaining compliance throughout the entire lifecycle of a cosmetic product in the UK.
Need to submit your Cosmetic Product Notification? Taobé Consulting can manage the process for you — from preparing your cosmetic PIF and ensuring formula compliance to handling submission through the UK cosmetics portal.
Get in touch with our experts today to ensure your cosmetic products are fully compliant and ready for the UK market.
Key Takeaways on Submit Cosmetic Product Notification UK
- The SCPN UK is the official government platform for cosmetic product notifications, required under The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, Schedule 34, and based on EU Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009.
- Every cosmetic product marketed in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) must be notified to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) before sale.
- The Responsible Person (RP)—a UK-based legal entity—must handle the notification and maintain the Product Information File (PIF).
- Nanomaterial-containing products must be notified at least six months before being marketed.
- Failure to comply with SCPN notification requirements can lead to fines or imprisonment under the UK Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013.
- The SCPN improves traceability, market surveillance, and consumer protection by making key product data accessible to authorities such as the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).
- Data confidentiality is ensured—information is restricted to regulatory bodies and not made public.
- Companies must update their SCPN records if product formulations, labels, or distribution status change.
FAQs About the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) UK System
Who needs to submit cosmetic product notifications in the UK?
Any company marketing cosmetic products in Great Britain must submit a notification through the SCPN portal. The notification must be completed by the Responsible Person, who can be the manufacturer, importer, or a UK-based representative.
What information is required for SCPN notification?
Details such as the product’s category, name, Responsible Person’s contact, PIF address, presence of nanomaterials, and original packaging label must be submitted to the portal.
Are any cosmetic products exempt from SCPN notification?
No. All cosmetic products sold in Great Britain must be notified under the SCPN system without exception.
What happens if a product is not notified through the SCPN?
Failure to notify a cosmetic product through the SCPN (for Great Britain) is a breach of the UK Cosmetics Regulation. Enforcement penalties under the UK Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 include unlimited fines in England and Wales, or up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and possible imprisonment for up to three months.
How does the SCPN support consumer safety?
The SCPN provides authorities like the OPSS and NPIS with access to product data for safety assessments, market surveillance, and emergency medical treatment if adverse effects occur.
Which authority manages and enforces the SCPN in the UK?
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) manages the SCPN, while enforcement is carried out under the UK Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 by Trading Standards Officers and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
