In the wake of certain imported cosmetic products found to be containing spurious materials, especially heavy metals in cosmetics, which are hazardous to the body, the government of India has issued regulations regarding registration and testing of all the imported cosmetic products. However, the imported cosmetic items which are not meant to be sold in the Indian market are out of this bound.

The regulation is effective from October 1, 2011. As per the Indian Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, the registration could be issued by the office of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) or his nominee.

For registration fee for each cosmetics brand has been decided to be USD 250. The fee could be paid in USD or equivalent Indian rupee, directly by the manufacturer, or by the designated distributor or the agent. The regulation also contains guidelines for the testing of cosmetics products for heavy metals, whereby the products could be tested in a laboratory authorized by the government.