In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
If you manufacture or import cosmetics, submit an HSA cosmetic product notification through PRISM before selling, for every variant, and renew it yearly. Fees start at S$13 per variant. You may sell once the automatic acknowledgement arrives.
Is your product a cosmetic under HSA rules?
HSA defines a cosmetic as a product placed on the external parts of the body, such as skin, hair, nails, lips, teeth or mouth, to clean, perfume, change appearance, correct body odour, protect or keep them in good condition (HSA: Cosmetic products overview).
That covers skincare, make-up, shampoo, deodorant, perfume, nail polish, toothpaste and most beauty products. It does not cover injections, eye-drops, anything swallowed (such as beauty supplements, which follow different rules, see our guide to selling supplements online), or products intended for treatment, such as acne treatment creams. Products that treat a condition may be medicines with much stricter requirements.
Who must submit an HSA cosmetic product notification
HSA says manufacturers and importers must notify their cosmetic products before supplying them in Singapore (HSA: Submit notification). In practice:
| Your situation | Do you notify? |
|---|---|
| You make your own skincare brand locally | Yes, as the manufacturer or product owner |
| You import products from overseas to resell | Yes, as the importer, even if another company already notified the same product |
| You buy from a Singapore distributor who imported and notified it | Usually no; the importer notifies. Keep proof from your supplier |
| Different shades or scents of one product | Yes, each variant is notified separately |
| Different pack sizes of the same product | No separate notification needed |
| Free samples for promotions | No notification, but labels, ingredients and adverse event rules still apply |
Notification needs a Singapore entity registered with ACRA, a Corppass account and a CRIS account with HSA, then a submission through HSA's PRISM e-service. You can start selling once the acknowledgement is generated automatically.
HSA notification fees and timeline
Fees are per product or variant, and the same fees apply to the yearly re-notification (HSA: Cosmetic product fees), as of October 2026.
- Eye-area, lip, oral or dental care products, or hair dyes with diamine compoundsFor a single product or each of the first 3 variantsS$28 each
- All other cosmetic productsFor a single product or each of the first 3 variantsS$13 each
- Fourth and subsequent variants of a productBoth categoriesS$8 each
- Re-notification every yearEach notification is valid for one yearSame fees again
Example: one moisturiser in 3 sizes plus a lipstick in 5 shadesS$13 + (3 x S$28) + (2 x S$8) = S$113 a year
Pack sizes of the same product do not need separate notification. Fees paid via GIRO or eNETS.
Build the yearly renewal into your calendar. If a notification lapses, you should stop supplying that product until it is renewed. Cancel notifications for products you no longer sell.
Ingredient and label rules
Singapore follows the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, which is similar to EU rules. Before notifying, HSA asks you to check ingredients against the Directive's annexes of prohibited and restricted substances, permitted colours, preservatives and UV filters, and to check the label.
Label must show (in English)
Labels must be in English; other languages may be added if they say the same thing. When importing, check that the overseas label meets these points. Many do not show a Singapore responsible company, so you may need a sticker.
What your product pages can claim
HSA says cosmetic advertisements cannot claim to modify a physiological process, such as reversing hair loss, or to prevent or treat a disease or medical condition. Claims must fit the definition of a cosmetic, be substantiated, follow the ASEAN Cosmetic Claim Guideline and comply with the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice.
Cosmetic-type claims
- Moisturises and softens skin
- Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines
- Cleanses and refreshes
- Protects skin from sun (with the right UV filters and testing)
Claims to avoid
- Treats acne, eczema or psoriasis
- Regrows hair or stops hair loss
- Removes scars or cures pigmentation disorders
- Heals, repairs DNA or works like a medicine
These rules apply to everything a customer sees: product titles, descriptions, images with text, ads, influencer posts you pay for, and reviews you choose to feature. AI-written copy often borrows claims from markets with looser rules, so review it line by line before publishing.
Own Shopify store vs Shopee and Lazada
The HSA rules are the same wherever you sell. What changes is who sees your listing and what the platform checks. Marketplaces may ask for your notification details before allowing a cosmetic listing; your own store does not check anything, so compliance is entirely on you.
Notify before listing
Submit notifications for every product and variant before the store or listing goes live.
Put full label details on each product page
Show the ingredient list as text and a clear photo of the label. Customers with allergies look for this.
Write claims within the cosmetic definition
Use appearance and care wording, and keep evidence for any claim such as SPF or hydration results.
Record batch numbers on orders
Note batch or lot numbers when you pack, so you can trace customers if a recall happens.
Keep supply records for two years
HSA requires records of supply for two years. Shopify order exports plus supplier invoices usually cover this.
Set up an adverse effect process
Give customers a way to report reactions, and report serious adverse effects and recalls to HSA promptly.
For the costs of running your own store against marketplace fees, see Shopee and Lazada fees vs your own online store, and for the store itself, what a Shopify store costs in Singapore. Other permits are listed in our guide to licences to sell online in Singapore.
Do it yourself or get help?
Notification itself is straightforward once you have Corppass and a CRIS account, and HSA publishes a step-by-step guide. The work is in checking ingredients against the Directive, preparing labels and keeping claims within the rules. For your own formulations, a regulatory consultant or contract manufacturer familiar with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive is worth involving.
We build the store side. Our Shopify Store package (S$1,890) sets up product templates with ingredient lists, label photos and batch tracking fields. For larger catalogues with many shades and variants, Online Store Pro (S$3,490) adds more structure and automation. This page is general information, not regulatory advice.
Frequently asked questions
Not approval, but usually notification. Manufacturers and importers must submit a cosmetic product notification to HSA through PRISM before supplying each product and variant. The acknowledgement is generated automatically and lets you start selling. HSA does not evaluate or approve the product, so safety, ingredients and labelling remain your responsibility.
As of October 2026, S$13 per product or each of the first three variants for most cosmetics, and S$28 for products used around the eyes or on the lips, oral and dental care products, and hair dyes with diamine compounds. Each further variant costs S$8. The same fees apply to the yearly re-notification.
HSA places the notification duty on manufacturers and importers. If you buy from a Singapore distributor that imported and notified the product, you usually do not need to notify it again. Ask the distributor to confirm the notification and keep that record. If you import directly, you must notify even if another company has notified the same product.
Different variants, such as lipstick shades or shampoo scents, each need their own notification. Different pack sizes of the same product do not. Variants from the fourth onwards cost less, at S$8 each as of October 2026, so a product range with many shades costs less per item than notifying them as separate products.
Claims must fit the definition of a cosmetic, such as cleansing, moisturising, protecting or improving appearance, and be backed by evidence. You cannot claim to treat or prevent a disease or medical condition, or to change a body process such as reversing hair loss. Ads must follow the ASEAN Cosmetic Claim Guideline and the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice.