The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under the Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India, has issued an official circular enforcing strict regulatory compliance for all hair color cosmetic products imported into or manufactured within India. The directive, signed by Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General (India) and Central Licensing Authority, establishes immediate benchmarks for chemical composition, consumer warning statements, and mandatory authorization procedures.
Hair color products defined by the regulator as cosmetics intended to alter, enhance, or restore the color of hair using various dyeing and coloring ingredients must align comprehensively with the statutory provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.
“Ensuring the safety, purity, and absolute quality of personal care products is a core public health mandate. Importers and manufacturers must operate with total transparency regarding permissible ingredients. Any deviations from established national standards will be subject to strict regulatory review to safeguard Indian consumers from restricted or hazardous formulations.”Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General (India) & Central Licensing Authority”
All products must strictly comply with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, explicitly. Under IS 4707 (Part 1), companies must restrict coloring agents to the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list. Conversely, ingredients listed under IS 4707 (Part 2) as Generally Not Recognized as Safe (GNRAS) or classified as Restricted Ingredients face stringent regulatory limitations or total bans.Products must fulfill the legal labeling frameworks prescribed under Rule 34 and Rule 37 of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Manufacturers and importers are legally required to report any revisions made to product labeling, chemical composition, or quality specifications
The CDSCO has communicated this directive directly to all cosmetics manufacturer and importer associations via electronic mail. Non-compliance with the stated BIS standards and labeling rules will attract penalty and administrative action under current drug and cosmetic legislation.
Written by: Pragna Biswas
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
