India cosmetic ingredient regulations
Cosmetics Rules and gazette updates are authoritative; some standards may require separate access.
- Regulator
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation
- Source language
- English and Hindi
- Coverage version
- Cosmetics Rules 2020 plus current BIS IS 4707 parts (1:2020, 2:2025, 3:2025, 4:2022)
What this list is
India regulates cosmetics under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act through the Cosmetics Rules 2020, and leans on BIS standards for composition. Imports additionally need registration before they may be sold.
- 1,931 Indian records: 1,614 prohibited, 317 restricted.
- The regulator is the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
- Imported cosmetics require CDSCO import registration, which is separate from any ingredient question.
- BIS standards such as IS 4707 set composition requirements and are referenced by the Rules.
India's ingredient rules sit inside a wider approval structure, and the ingredient answer alone will not get a product to market. The Cosmetics Rules 2020, made under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, govern manufacture and import, and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation administers them. An imported cosmetic needs registration with CDSCO before it may be sold, regardless of how unremarkable its formula is.
Composition is handled partly by reference. The Bureau of Indian Standards publishes standards for cosmetic products and their ingredients — IS 4707 among them — and the Rules pull those in. That means a complete Indian answer can require reading a standard that is published separately from the Rules and is not always freely available.
One further point of difference: India prohibits the import and manufacture of cosmetics tested on animals, and prohibits certain substances outright such as hexachlorophene and mercury compounds. The 1,931 records below carry the status the Indian source gives them.
Checked against
Official ingredient records
1614 matching recordsspecies and their galenical preparations Strophantus
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 301 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
species and their galenical preparations Strychnos
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 303 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
spp. and their preparations (CAS No. 65497-07-6/60820-94-2) Phytolacca
CAS 65497-07-6; 60820-94-2
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 371 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
substance in hair dye products Disodium 3-[(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulphonatophenyl)azo]-4-hydroxynaphthalene-1-sulphonate (ponceau SX; CI 14700) ( CAS No. 4548-53-2) when used as a substance in hair dye products
CAS 4548-53-2
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1314 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
substance in hair dye products Xanthylium, 9-(2-carboxyphenyl)-3-((2-methylphenyl)amino)-6-((2-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)amino)-, inner salt (CAS No. 10213-95-3); and its sodium salt (acid violet 9; CI 45190) ( CAS No. 6252-76-2)
CAS 10213-95-3; 6252-76-2
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1308 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
substance in hair dye products. Ethanaminium,N-(4-[bis[4-(diethylamino)phenyl]methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene)-N-ethyl- and its salts (CAS No. 2390-59-2), when used as a substance in hair dye products.
CAS 2390-59-2 · EC 219-231-5
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1244 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (CAS No. 75-91-2)
CAS 75-91-2
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1389 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
tris(2-Chloroethyl) phosphate (CAS No. 115-96-8)
CAS 115-96-8
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 986 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
undecanedithiol (CAS No. 170016-25-8) Potassium titanium oxide (K2Ti6O13) (CAS No. 12056-51-8)
CAS 170016-25-8; 12056-51-8
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1419 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
used as a fragrance ingredient. 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-penten-3-one (alpha-Methylanisylideneacetone) (CAS No. 104-27-8), when
CAS 104-27-8
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 437 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
used as a substance in hair dye products Disodium 4-[(5-chloro-4-methyl-2-sulphonatophenyl)azo]-3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate (pigment red 48 CI 15865) ( CAS No. 3564-21-4) when used as a substance in hair dye products
CAS 3564-21-4 · EC 222-642-2
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1321 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
used as a substance in hair dye products Ethanaminium, N-(4-((4-diethylamino)phenyl)(5- hydroxy-2,4-disulfophenyl)methylene)-2,5- cyclohexadien-1-ylidene)-N-ethyl-, hydroxide, inner salt, calcium salt (2 : 1) (acid blue 3; CI 42051)
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1329 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
when used as a substance in hair dye products 3 ,6 -Dihydroxy-4 ,5 -diiodospiro(isobenzofuran-1(3H),9 -[9H]xanthene)-3-one; (solvent red 73) ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ (CAS No. 38577-97-8) and its sodium salt (acid red 95; CI 45425) (CAS No. 33239-19-9) when used
CAS 38577-97-8; 33239-19-9
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1309 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
yl)azo)-2,5-diethoxyphenyl)azo) benzoate (CAS No. 163879-69-4) -Diacetylbenzidine (CAS No. 613-35-4) N,N′
CAS 163879-69-4; 613-35-4
IS 4707 Part 2:2025 Annex A lists this ingredient as one that must not form part of a cosmetic product in India.
Conditions: Must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Apply the general trace and safety notes published after Annex A.
Source:IS 4707 (Part 2):2025 Annex A, entry 1506 · version IS 4707 (Part 2):2025, fifth revision · effective Aug. 9, 2025 · source checked 2026-08-31
Market coverage contract
Complete current Part 2 dataset plus official workflow for Parts 1, 3 and 4- Included scope
- All 1,614 prohibited Annex A rows and 317 numbered/lettered restricted Annex B rows from IS 4707 Part 2:2025; official checks remain for colourants, preservatives and UV filters in Parts 1, 3 and 4.
- If no match is found
- The standards are separate controlled publications; absence from a locally indexed excerpt is not permission.
Complete verification checklist
- Confirm product class and current Cosmetics Rules/gazette amendments.
- Check all applicable parts of IS 4707 by exact identity.
- Apply Schedule S/other finished-product standards where relevant.
- Verify licence/import registration, labelling and testing requirements.
How India differs from other markets
Comparing this market's imported rules against every other market's for the same substance. A market with no imported rule for a substance is left out of that comparison rather than treated as permitting it.
A formula cleared elsewhere can fail here.
Permitted here under conditions and prohibited, or more tightly held, elsewhere — so a formula built for this market may not travel.
and 37 more — see the full comparison
Official sources and legal role
India Cosmetics Rules 2020
General legal and import requirements; no complete open structured ingredient catalogue identified
Legal meaning: Official CDSCO rules and gazette updates; standards may require separate licensed sources
Available language: English
India BIS IS 4707 cosmetic ingredient standards
Complete current Part 2:2025 Annex A prohibited and Annex B restricted rows; Parts 1, 3 and 4 remain linked official checks
Legal meaning: Indian Standards referenced by the cosmetics regulatory framework; use the controlled current editions
Available language: English
What this market page can answer
Source and authority
Identify the official material and the regulator responsible for it: Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation.
Language and scope
See whether usable English or bilingual material exists and what the mapped source actually covers. Current source language: English and Hindi.
Evidence status
Browse ingredient-level records imported from official sources. Each row states whether it passed deterministic source checks or human editorial review.
How to verify an ingredient for this market
- Search the ingredient by INCI name, CAS number or EC number and record the exact identity.
- Open each official source above and check the current version, product scope, concentration limits and required warnings.
- Confirm effective dates and whether an English text is official, reviewed or only contextual.
- Treat a missing local match as unknown, never as permission or a safety conclusion.