Introduction

Every cosmetic product made available to consumers in Great Britain must be notified to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) through the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) service before it reaches the market. This obligation applies to every business regardless of size or sales volume, and the notification must be submitted through a UK-based Responsible Person there is no route to lawful GB sale without it.

Launched in December 2020, SCPN replaced the EU's Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP) for the Great Britain market following the UK's departure from the EU. Northern Ireland continues to follow the EU's CPNP system under the Windsor Framework, so a GB-only SCPN notification does not extend to NI sales.

What Is SCPN?

SCPN is the UK government's official online notification system, accessed via GOV.UK One Login and overseen by OPSS. Before a Responsible Person can notify a product, they must submit specific information so that authorities including Trading Standards and the National Poisons Information Service can access it quickly in the event of a safety concern, adverse reaction, or recall.

Information OPSS Requires

• What is in the cosmetic product — the full ingredient composition, including any nanomaterials that require specific disclosure
• Product identity — name, category and intended function
• Responsible Person details — name, UK business registration, address and contact information, which must stay up to date on both the SCPN record and the product itself
• A contact person for the National Poisons Information Service or Trading Standards to reach in the event of an incident
• Label and packaging information, consistent with your CPSR and PIF documentation

What We Handle

• Verification that your product name, category, formulation and Responsible Person details are complete, accurate and internally consistent with your CPSR and PIF
• Compilation of the ingredient list in the correct format, including nanomaterial disclosure where relevant
• Provision of the required National Poisons Information Service / Trading Standards contact details
• Submission through the SCPN portal on behalf of your Responsible Person
• A notification confirmation and record, retained for your PIF and compliance file

Why It Matters

Selling a cosmetic product in Great Britain without SCPN notification is a legal offence. Under OPSS guidance, non-compliance can result in a fine unlimited in England and Wales, up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland and a prison term of up to three months. Beyond the direct legal risk, notification is what allows enforcement authorities and poisons information services to respond quickly and accurately if a safety issue arises with your product.

Legal & Regulatory Framework

• OPSS "Submit cosmetic product notifications (SCPN)" service, gov.uk
• Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, as retained under Schedule 34, Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/696)
• Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1478) — enforcement powers, offences and penalties
• Responsible Person obligations under the same retained framework, including maintaining accurate, current notification data

Who Needs This Service

• UK brand owners launching a new single-variant product
• Importers and distributors bringing EU or non-UK-manufactured products into Great Britain post-Brexit
• Responsible Persons managing notification for multiple brand or contract-manufacturing clients
• Private-label and white-label businesses launching a single new SKU
• Brands re-notifying a product after a reformulation or rebrand that changes its identity on the portal

Process & Turnaround

1. Data collection — product name, category, full INCI formulation, Responsible Person details, and label artwork.
2. Compliance cross-check — your data is checked against your existing CPSR and PIF for consistency before submission.
3. Portal submission — your product is registered on the SCPN portal under your Responsible Person's account.
4. Confirmation — you receive notification confirmation for your records and PIF.

Once your documentation is complete, standard processing is typically completed within a few working days; expedited options are available for urgent launches.

Deliverables

• SCPN notification confirmation, timestamped
• Compliance summary for your Responsible Person's PIF records

FAQs

Do I need a UK Responsible Person to notify on SCPN?
Yes. SCPN notification must be submitted by, or on behalf of, a Responsible Person established in the UK. Spectra can act as your UK RP if you don't already have one see our Responsible Person service.

Does this cover Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland follows the EU's CPNP system under the Windsor Framework see our CPNP notification service for NI or EU sales.

What happens if my ingredients change after notification?
You're required to keep your Responsible Person's contact information and the notification data accurate; a material change to the formulation requires the SCPN record to be updated without delay.

What are the penalties for not notifying?
Under OPSS guidance, non-compliance can mean an unlimited fine in England and Wales, a fine of up to £5,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and up to three months' imprisonment.

Does each product variant need its own SCPN notification?
Generally yes each distinct formulation, colour or scent is notified individually, though closely related variants sharing an identical base may sometimes be grouped at your Responsible Person's judgement.

How long does the process take from start to finish?
Once your CPSR, formulation data and label artwork are complete and consistent, submission is typically processed within a few working days.