I make skincare/cosmetics at home or with a small manufacturer, do I need a CDSCO license before I can sell?
The short answer
Yes, manufacturing cosmetics in India needs a manufacturing license from your State Licensing Authority (CDSCO sets the framework nationally but states issue and inspect), and if you're importing finished products or ingredients, that route runs through CDSCO's central registration instead. Expect roughly 45 days for the manufacturing license including a site inspection, and note it stays valid indefinitely as long as you pay a retention fee every five years. Selling online doesn't need a separate registration on top of this, but your labels, MRP, and claims still have to be Legal Metrology and Cosmetics Rules 2020 compliant regardless of the channel.
A quick summary to orient you. The real value is below: the resources worth your time, from people who've actually done it, not us.
Here are the resources
Hand-picked from around the web, each with a note on why it earns your time. India-specific ones carry a badge.
Why we picked it
A practical process breakdown for domestic manufacturing specifically, timeline, site inspection, and the five-year retention fee detail that trips up first-time cosmetics founders.
Why we picked it
The regulator's own cosmetics page, the authoritative source to confirm current rules before you commit to a formulation or manufacturing partner.
