East Asia · Hong Kong SAR
What does it take to sell cosmetics in Hong Kong SAR? Entry route, responsibility, labeling
None: no pre-market registration, notification or import licence for general cosmetics; Responsible person: No statutory responsible person; Labeling: No cosmetics-specific label law, but any warning ….
Latest change 2026-07-24 — Hong Kong Customs warned the public about a collagen cream containing banned Sudan red dye and lacking the required Chinese warning labelling (enforcement action under Cap. 456; no new legislation). Source
Factory-side digest; the official text prevails; not legal advice.
- Authority
- Customs and Excise Department (C&ED); Department of Health for pharmaceutical-type products
- Main regulation
- Cap. 456 Laws of Hong Kong (general safety requirement, s.4) · Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (Cap. 456) and Consumer Goods Safety Regulation (Cap. 456A); Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362)
- Market entry
- None: no pre-market registration, notification or import licence for general cosmetics; only products classified as pharmaceuticals (Cap. 138) or proprietary Chinese medicines (Cap. 549) need registration.
- Responsible person
- No statutory responsible person; the Hong Kong manufacturer, importer or supplier is liable for meeting the general safety requirement.
- Safety file
- No mandated dossier; suppliers must be able to show the product meets the general safety requirement (reasonable safety by reference to international or Hong Kong standards, test reports on request).
- Labeling
- No cosmetics-specific label law, but any warning or caution on safe keeping, use or disposal must be in both English and Chinese, legibly and conspicuously (Cap. 456A); descriptions must not be false or misleading (Cap. 362); no ingredient or allergen listing mandate.
- Animal testing
- No ban and no requirement.
- Ingredient lists
- No cosmetic-specific lists; C&ED judges safety against international standards (EU/ACD/China limits) and the Poisons List under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) restricts substances such as hydroquinone and certain hair-dye amines.
- Notes
- Commencement date of Cap. 456 (commonly cited as 1995) could not be verified; bilingual warnings are the only language rule.
- Official text
- https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap456
FAQ
Does Hong Kong SAR require notification or registration before sale?
None: no pre-market registration, notification or import licence for general cosmetics; only products classified as pharmaceuticals (Cap. 138) or proprietary Chinese medicines (Cap. 549) need registration.
Is a local responsible person mandatory in Hong Kong SAR?
No statutory responsible person; the Hong Kong manufacturer, importer or supplier is liable for meeting the general safety requirement.
What are the labeling requirements in Hong Kong SAR?
No cosmetics-specific label law, but any warning or caution on safe keeping, use or disposal must be in both English and Chinese, legibly and conspicuously (Cap. 456A); descriptions must not be false or misleading (Cap. 362); no ingredient or allergen listing mandate.
What changed recently in Hong Kong SAR cosmetic regulation?
2026-07-24 Hong Kong Customs warned the public about a collagen cream containing banned Sudan red dye and lacking the required Chinese warning labelling (enforcement action under Cap. 456; no new legislation).
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