Scope & formula
Confirm cosmetic use and screen the applicable ingredient annexes.
COSMETICS & PERSONAL CARE
Singapore Cosmetic Notification
& Regulatory Services
MediPass takes on local product notification and physical import in Singapore by agreement, supplies the distribution, retail and e-commerce channels you appoint, and maintains the product file and post-market compliance.
YOUR MARKET-ENTRY PRIORITIES
Prepare for the Singapore market.
Local supplier
Align the Singapore company, account access and supply arrangements.
Annual maintenance
Plan re-notification and ongoing product safety responsibilities.
REGULATORY OVERVIEW
Health Sciences Authority (HSA)
Singapore regulates cosmetics under the Health Products Act and the Health Products (Cosmetic Products—ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations 2007. HSA applies the ACD framework through national notification and post-market controls.
Who is responsible locally?
The local company submitting the notification must be registered with ACRA and hold the appropriate Corppass access and HSA CRIS account. Where MediPass provides the notification and import service, MediPass takes on those roles by agreement; a freight forwarder or customs broker alone does not assume notification responsibility.
- Regulator
- HSA
- Filing system
- PRISM
- Notification validity
- 1 year; annual re-notification
- Label language
- English required
FROM ASSESSMENT TO MARKET
The Singapore notification pathway.
Confirm cosmetic scope
Review intended use, application site, formula and claims. A therapeutic claim or non-cosmetic use can change the regulatory pathway. Check current prohibited and restricted ingredient conditions.
Prepare the company and product information
Arrange ACRA, Corppass and CRIS readiness. Assemble product particulars, manufacturer details, ingredient information, labels and supporting safety records.
Submit through PRISM
Notify before supply unless a specific HSA exemption applies. Different shades or scents require separate notifications; different pack sizes of the same product do not. A different importing company must make its own notification.
Verify the acknowledgement and launch readiness
After acknowledgement, the product may be supplied subject to all applicable requirements. HSA does not evaluate or approve the product through the notification process.
Maintain the product and re-notify
Re-notify annually while continuing supply. Keep distribution records for two years and arrange reporting of serious adverse effects, defects and recalls.
BUILD THE RIGHT FILE
Documents to prepare.
Start with complete manufacturer information.
The checklist supports an initial readiness review. The exact filing and supporting evidence depend on the product, applicant and supply arrangements.
Keep the technical file usable.
Keep supporting information available to HSA; notification is not a substitute for a defensible safety file.
- Product list, intended use, application site and proposed claims
- Full ingredient names and concentrations for compliance review
- Manufacturer and Singapore supplier information
- English labels, pack presentation and variant details
- Safety assessment, quality information and claim-support evidence
- Accessible Product Information File (PIF) and supply records
PRODUCT PRESENTATION
Labels and claims need a local review.
Labels & mandatory information
Mandatory information must appear in English. Review product name and function, directions where needed, ingredients, country of manufacture, the local responsible company’s name and address, net contents, batch details, dates and required precautions. An expiry date is mandatory when minimum durability is below 30 months.
Claims & market communication
Claims must remain cosmetic and be supported. Do not describe notification as “HSA approval”, or imply endorsement of the product’s safety, quality or performance.
AFTER THE FIRST NOTIFICATION
Keep the product compliant as it changes.
Changes to the notification
Some company or manufacturer particulars may be amended. Changes to brand name, product name, product type or distribution rights require cancellation and a new notification under HSA’s rules.
Safety after launch
Keep the formula, label and supporting information aligned with the supplied product. Establish complaint review, serious adverse-event reporting and recall arrangements with the local supplier.
HOW MEDIPASS SUPPORTS YOU
Local notification, import support
and post-market maintenance.
Supporting overseas manufacturers entering Singapore through a compliant local entity and supply arrangement, serving the distribution, retail and e-commerce channels you appoint.
Local notification & responsibility
MediPass takes on local notification responsibility by agreement, reviews the formula, English labels and safety information, and completes the filing and annual re-notification.
Physical import & channel supply
MediPass handles the agreed physical import, connecting shipment documents, import formalities and local delivery, so your appointed channels source the product from the local supply chain.
Post-market compliance
Maintain product information and supply records; follow up on changes, authority queries, adverse events and recalls.
You choose and manage your sales channels; MediPass takes on the local responsibilities and services agreed between the parties. Import, title to goods, taxes and delivery arrangements are set out in the service agreement.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Planning your Singapore launch.
We have no Singapore company. Can MediPass supply local channels for us?
Yes. MediPass can, by agreement, take on local product notification and physical import, and supply the distributors and sales channels you appoint. You do not need to set up a Singapore company for this and can focus on brand development and channel management; we connect product notification, import arrangements and ongoing compliance maintenance.
Does adding a local distributor require a new notification?
Distinguish local sourcing from independent import. Channels that buy the product from the local supply chain MediPass is responsible for, and resell it, do not each need an importer notification simply because another outlet is added. If another company imports from overseas itself, that importer must make its own notification under HSA’s requirements, even where the same product has already been notified by another company.
Are free samples always exempt?
Only specific exemptions apply, such as products supplied solely as promotional samples or for research and development. Other safety and labelling obligations still apply. Check the actual supply arrangement.
Can a cosmetic be marketed as treating disease?
Product claims must fit the cosmetic definition. Assess therapeutic or disease-treatment claims before choosing a notification pathway.
PLAN YOUR SINGAPORE MARKET ENTRY & SUPPLY
You build the sales channels.
We connect compliance and supply.
Share your products, formulas, manufacturing country and the sales channels you plan to work with. We will map out local notification, import arrangements and ongoing maintenance against Singapore’s requirements.
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