Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP): What You Need to Know

Sections in this Guide

• Introduction to CPNP
• What Is the CPNP?
• Who Must Submit the CPNP Notification?
• When Must a Product Be Notified?
• What Information Is Required for CPNP?
• What Happens After Submission on CPNP?
• Common Mistakes to Avoid when submitting CPNP
• Northern Ireland and the CPNP
• CPNP for Non-EU Manufactuers

Introduction to CPNP

The Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP) is the European Commission’s central online system used to notify cosmetic products before they are placed on the EU market. It was introduced under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 to ensure market surveillance authorities and poison centres have fast access to essential product information, improving consumer safety and traceability across the EU.

What Is the CPNP?

The CPNP is a secure digital platform managed by the European Commission. All cosmetic products must be notified through this portal prior to being made available on the market. Once submitted, authorities can instantly access your product data, reducing the need for separate national notifications and simplifying compliance across the EU.

Who Must Submit the CPNP Notification?

The Responsible Person (RP) carries the legal obligation to complete the CPNP notification.
This can be:

• The manufacturer (if established within the EU)
• The importer (for products coming from outside the EU)
• An appointed Authorised Representative acting as the Responsible Person, where the brand owner is located outside the EU

Only the RP can submit the notification as they are legally accountable for the product’s compliance and safety.

When Must a Product Be Notified?

Notification must be completed before the product is placed on the EU market. The process needs to be done once per product, unless the formulation or key details change, in which case an update must be submitted.

What Information Is Required for CPNP?

A CPNP notification typically includes:

• Product category and type
• Name and address of the Responsible Person
• Country of origin (for imported products)
• Member State where the product is first placed on the market
• A photograph or clear description of the packaging and labelling
• The product formulation, including concentration ranges
• Details of any nanomaterials present
• The Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) and its components
• Notification of products considered ‘new’ under Annex III criteria

This information enables authorities and poison centres to respond effectively to incidents and ensure the product meets all regulatory obligations.

What Happens After Submission of CPNP?

Once submitted, your product is considered notified, and no approval or certificate is issued. Market Surveillance Authorities may request documentation or conduct checks at any time. For this reason, maintaining accurate, up-to-date information and ensuring the Product Information File (PIF) is complete is essential.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Submitting CPNP

• Incomplete or outdated formulation details
• Failure to update the CPNP after formula or packaging changes
• Missing nanomaterial disclosures
• Products placed on the market before notification is completed

Ensuring accuracy from the start helps prevent compliance issues later.

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Northern Ireland and the CPNP

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, cosmetic products placed on the Northern Ireland market must continue to comply with EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. This means that products made available in Northern Ireland must still be notified through the CPNP, not the UK’s separate domestic notification system.

Responsible Person Requirements

For products sold in Northern Ireland, the Responsible Person must be established in Northern Ireland or the EU/EEA. A UK-only Responsible Person (based solely in Great Britain) is not sufficient for CPNP access.

Where Notification Is Needed

• Northern Ireland: CPNP notification
• Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales): Notification through the UK’s “Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications” (SCPN) portal

If you intend to sell in both NI and GB, you may need to complete both notifications.

Labelling Considerations

Cosmetic products for Northern Ireland must follow EU labelling rules, including the name and address of the EU/NI-based Responsible Person.

Support for Non-EU and Non-NI Brands

If you are based outside the EU/EEA and wish to supply Northern Ireland, you will need to appoint an EU or NI-established Responsible Person. We can support businesses with both the RP role and notification requirements.

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CPNP for Non-EU Manufacturers

Non-EU brands must appoint an EU Responsible Person to access the CPNP and fulfil notification obligations. Without an EU-established RP, products cannot legally be sold in the European Union.

If your company requires support with the CPNP process or needs an EU-based Authorised Representative to act as your Responsible Person, we can assist with both the notification and the wider cosmetic compliance requirements.

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Further Reading

For definitions see our page on Classification and Labelling (C&L) Definitions

Read our guide to the CLP Hazard Pictograms

Read our guide on how to produce Safety Data Sheets

Read our guide on Poison Centre Notifications (PCN) – What They Are and How They’re Submitted

Read guide on Understanding EPREL – The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling