The Bombay High Court has ruled that cosmetics imported into India must obtain mandatory registration from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), even if the consignments are intended only for warehousing and subsequent re-export.
The court held that the regulatory requirement under India’s drug and cosmetics framework applies to all cosmetic products entering the country, regardless of whether they are meant for domestic sale or merely stored temporarily in bonded warehouses before being shipped out again.
In its ruling, the court observed that the absence of CDSCO registration makes such imports non-compliant with India’s regulatory provisions. As a result, goods brought into the country without the required approvals may be treated as prohibited imports under the applicable legal framework.
The judgment came while hearing a dispute involving seized cosmetic consignments that the importer claimed were meant solely for warehousing and re-export. However, the court rejected the argument, stating that regulatory compliance must be fulfilled at the time of import itself.
The decision reinforces stricter compliance obligations for importers handling cosmetic products and highlights the importance of obtaining necessary regulatory approvals before bringing such goods into India. Industry observers note that the ruling may prompt logistics operators and trading firms to review documentation and licensing requirements for cosmetic shipments routed through Indian ports and warehouses.
