Exporting Korean-made skincare, market by market
Registrations, responsible persons, labels and the file your customs broker expects. We wrote this after doing it for our own brand.
United States
Since the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, every cosmetic sold in the US needs a product listing and the facility that makes it must be registered with the FDA. A responsible person, usually the brand owner or importer, keeps safety substantiation on file and handles adverse event reporting. Labels need the ingredient list in the accepted format, net quantity in both metric and US customary units, and country of origin. Sunscreen is an over-the-counter drug in the US and follows separate rules, so ask before you plan an SPF product there.
European Union
The EU asks for a responsible person established in the EU, a product information file that includes a cosmetic product safety report, stability and challenge test data, and a notification in the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal before the product goes on sale. Labels carry the responsible person's address, the ingredient list in INCI order, period after opening and the batch number.
United Kingdom
The UK mirrors the EU system with its own portal, the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification service, and a UK responsible person. One test set usually covers both markets.
Canada
Health Canada requires a cosmetic notification within ten days of first sale, bilingual English and French labels, and a check against the hotlist of restricted ingredients.
Australia
Ingredients must be covered under the industrial chemicals scheme, and sunscreens above SPF 15 are therapeutic goods with their own listing.
Japan
Imported cosmetics need an import business partner, full ingredient labeling in Japanese, and a quasi-drug review for certain actives and claims.
Southeast Asia and the Gulf
ASEAN countries share a cosmetic directive but notify separately: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia each have their own portal, and Halal certification opens several of them. Saudi Arabia and the UAE register products through their own systems with Arabic labeling.
The documents every shipment needs
- Commercial invoice with HS codes
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin
- Certificate of analysis per batch
- Safety data sheet
- Full ingredient list
- Bill of lading or airway bill
- Importer details and power of attorney
- Market registration numbers
Two details decide the landed cost. The HS classification sets the duty rate, and the certificate of origin can lower it under a trade agreement. For Korean goods entering the US, the KORUS certificate of origin is the one to ask for.