CDSCO warns against misleading cosmetic claims and injectable cosmetic use
The regulator’s latest public notice places fresh compliance pressure on cosmetic brands, label converters, and packaging professionals over misleading claims, unauthorised applications, and labelling practices
21 May 2026 | 52 Views | By Sai Deepthi P
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a public notice warning cosmetic manufacturers, importers, marketers, and consumers against misleading claims, prohibited ingredients, and the misuse of cosmetic products for injectable applications.
The notice, issued by the directorate general of health services under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, reiterates that cosmetics are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Cosmetics Rules, 2020.
According to the notice, cosmetics are intended only for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance and are not permitted for injectable use under any circumstances.
The CDSCO specifically clarified that products supplied in injectable form do not fall under the legal definition of cosmetics and that no cosmetic product can be administered through injection by consumers, professionals, or aesthetic clinics.
The regulator also warned against misleading claims and unauthorised statements appearing on cosmetic labels, cartons, wrappers, and containers.
“As per the provisions of labelling, no cosmetic may purport or claim to purport or convey any idea which is false or misleading to the intending user of cosmetics,” the notice stated.
For packaging professionals, the development highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny around on-pack communication, claims management, and compliance-led packaging design.
The CDSCO’s observations place renewed emphasis on accurate on-pack claims, compliant label copy, ingredient declarations, warning statements, traceability information, secondary carton compliance, and multilingual packaging accuracy.
Packaging experts note that as beauty and skincare brands increasingly adopt premium packaging, influencer-led marketing, and cosmeceutical positioning, the line between cosmetics and therapeutic products has become more closely scrutinised by regulators.
The CDSCO additionally stated that only ingredients recognised as generally recognised as safe (GNRAS) and permitted under Bureau of Indian Standards specifications may be used in cosmetic formulations.