SCPN registration is a mandatory requirement for marketing cosmetic products in Great Britain. Following Brexit, companies wishing to place cosmetics on the market in England, Scotland or Wales must notify them through the British Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications (SCPN) system, managed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
However, as with the European CPNP portal, notification is not the first step. Before registering a product, it is necessary to have a valid Responsible Person for the British market, confirm the cosmetic classification, review the labelling and prepare the technical documentation supporting its safety.
It is also important to distinguish between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the two territories are subject to different requirements for placing cosmetic products on the market.
What Is The SCPN And What Is It Used For?
The Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications (SCPN) is the official UK Government platform used to provide the OPSS with information on cosmetic products intended for the Great Britain market.
Its purpose is to give the competent authorities and poison information services access to relevant information about products placed on the market, their ingredients and the persons responsible for ensuring their safety.
The SCPN is independent of the European CPNP portal. Therefore, a company that has already notified its cosmetics in the European Union must also check and comply with the UK notification requirements if it wishes to market them in Great Britain.
It is important to remember that notification in the SCPN does not constitute an authorisation or safety certification. Responsibility for ensuring that the product complies with all legal requirements remains with the Responsible Person.
SCPN Registration: The Six Steps To Market A Cosmetic Product In Great Britain
Step 1. Appoint A Responsible Person In The United Kingdom
Before any notification is submitted, it is necessary to identify who will act as the Responsible Person for the product on the British market.
This role is mandatory and must have a valid address in the United Kingdom. It may be the manufacturer, the importer, a distributor placing the product on the market under its own name or trademark, or an entity appointed by written mandate.
The Responsible Person must ensure that the product complies with the applicable legislation, retain the technical documentation and keep the information communicated to the authorities up to date.
Its main responsibilities include ensuring that a valid safety assessment is available, verifying the labelling, submitting the SCPN notification and managing any issues relating to product safety.
For companies established outside the United Kingdom, appointing a valid Responsible Person is one of the first matters that must be resolved before accessing the Great Britain market.
Step 2. Confirm That The Product Is Actually A Cosmetic
Not all products intended for personal care can be marketed under cosmetics legislation.
Before completing the SCPN registration, it is necessary to confirm that the product meets the legal definition of a cosmetic and that its intended purpose, composition and presentation are compatible with this category.
This assessment should take into account the site of application, the product’s primary purpose, the substances used and the marketing claims.
For example, a product intended to moisturise the skin may be classified as a cosmetic, while a product presented as having therapeutic properties could fall under a different regulatory framework.
It is also necessary to verify that the ingredients comply with the restrictions applicable in Great Britain. Although UK cosmetics legislation retains a structure similar to the European framework, regulatory amendments may introduce differences between the two markets.
Therefore, a formula that complies with European Union requirements should not automatically be considered compliant for Great Britain without reviewing the applicable UK legislation.
Step 3. Review The Labelling Before Notification
Labelling is one of the fundamental elements of regulatory compliance and should be reviewed before a product is registered in the SCPN.
Cosmetic products marketed in Great Britain must include the mandatory information required by UK legislation, including:
- Name and address of the Responsible Person.
- Country of origin, where applicable.
- Nominal content.
- Date of minimum durability or PAO, as applicable.
- Precautions and warnings for use.
- Batch number.
- Product function, where it is not obvious.
- List of ingredients.
The mandatory information must be presented clearly and comply with the language requirements of the target market.
In addition, marketing claims must be supported by appropriate evidence and must not attribute properties to the product that cannot be substantiated.
In practice, the labelling review should be carried out together with the formula and technical documentation. This makes it possible to confirm that the product name, function, ingredients and Responsible Person details match the information that will subsequently be submitted through the portal.
Step 4. Prepare The Technical Documentation: PIF And CPSR
Before completing the notification, the cosmetic product must have a Product Information File (PIF) and a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) that meet the requirements of the British market.
The PIF is the technical dossier containing the information needed to demonstrate the safety and compliance of the product. It must be kept up to date, be available in English to the authorities and be retained for ten years after the last batch has been placed on the market.
Its main contents include the product description, the CPSR, the manufacturing method, evidence of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice, substantiation of claims where applicable and information relating to animal testing.
The CPSR, meanwhile, contains the scientific information required to assess the safety of the cosmetic product.
Part A: Cosmetic Product Safety Information
This includes aspects such as the qualitative and quantitative composition, physicochemical characteristics, stability, microbiological quality, impurities, packaging material, intended exposure and toxicological profile of the ingredients.
Part B: Safety Assessment
This includes the safety assessment conclusion, any necessary warnings, the scientific reasoning and the credentials of the safety assessor.
The documentation must reflect the product that will actually be placed on the market and take into account the current UK requirements.
Stability studies, microbiological control, Challenge Tests or packaging compatibility studies can provide relevant information to support this assessment, depending on the characteristics and risk profile of the product.
Step 5. Complete The SCPN Registration
Once the Responsible Person has been appointed, the formula and labelling have been reviewed and the technical documentation has been prepared, the official notification can be completed.
Registration is completed through the UK Government SCPN portal.
To access the service, a GOV.UK One Login account is required. The Responsible Person must provide specific information about the product and its composition.
The information required by the portal includes:
- Name and category of the cosmetic product.
- Identification of the Responsible Person.
- Address where the PIF is kept.
- Contact details for urgent enquiries.
- Information on the ingredients and composition.
- Presence of certain CMR substances or nanomaterials, where applicable.
- Image of the labelling and photograph of the packaging.
The SCPN allows this information to be communicated to the OPSS before the product is placed on the Great Britain market.
The notification must be submitted before the cosmetic product is marketed, but completing the form does not replace any of the prior safety, documentation or labelling obligations.
It is also important to keep the Responsible Person details up to date and review the notification whenever relevant changes are made to the product.
Step 6. Check Additional Requirements For Nanomaterials
If the product contains nanomaterials, there may be specific notification obligations.
UK legislation distinguishes between nanomaterials included in the relevant annexes for certain uses, such as colorants, preservatives or UV filters, and nanomaterials used for other purposes.
Where a specific nanomaterial notification is required, the product must wait six months from that notification before it is placed on the market in Great Britain.
This notification may require additional information on physicochemical characteristics, particle size, toxicological profile, expected exposure and other data relevant to assessing safety.
Therefore, when a formula contains nanomaterials, the specific requirements should be reviewed before the launch timetable is finalised.
What Information Should Be Prepared Before Entering The SCPN?
Although SCPN registration is an electronic procedure, completing it correctly depends on the regulatory work carried out beforehand.
Before accessing the portal, it is advisable to have the Responsible Person details, product classification, final composition, labelling, safety assessment and technical dossier finalised.
It should also be confirmed that the documentation reflects the actual characteristics of the cosmetic product and that the testing required to support its safety has been carried out appropriately.
Having all this information ready from the outset helps reduce errors, avoid inconsistencies between documents and streamline the notification process.
Are The SCPN And CPNP The Same?
Although the two systems perform a similar function, the SCPN and CPNP are not interchangeable.
The SCPN is the UK system used to notify cosmetic products intended for England, Scotland and Wales. The information is submitted to the OPSS through the official UK Government platform.
The CPNP, on the other hand, is the European system used to notify cosmetic products intended for the European Union market. It is also used for products intended for the Northern Ireland market, in accordance with the regulatory regime applicable in that territory.
This distinction is particularly important for brands wishing to market their products in both markets, as they may need separate notifications and must comply with the obligations applicable in each territory.
If you need information on the procedure for the European Union, you can read our article on how to register a cosmetic product in the CPNP step by step.
How SHAPYPRO Can Help With SCPN Registration
At SHAPYPRO, regulatory consultancy and cosmetic product assessment make it possible to approach the notification process as part of a broader compliance strategy.
Before marketing a product in Great Britain, it is important to review the formula, ingredients, claims, labelling and technical documentation, taking into account the specific requirements of the British market.
SHAPYPRO’s regulatory consultancy services can provide support throughout the different stages of documentary and regulatory assessment.
In addition, stability studies, microbiological control and Challenge Tests can provide relevant scientific evidence to support the product safety assessment.
The objective is to ensure that the product and its documentation are consistent and that the applicable requirements are correctly identified before the notification is submitted and the product is placed on the market.
Conclusion
SCPN registration is a fundamental requirement for placing cosmetic products on the Great Britain market, but it should not be treated as an isolated administrative step.
Completing it correctly depends on having previously addressed a series of stages: appointing a Responsible Person, confirming the product classification, reviewing the labelling, preparing the PIF and CPSR and checking whether additional requirements apply, such as those relating to nanomaterials.
In addition, companies marketing cosmetics in both the European Union and Great Britain must correctly manage the obligations of both markets, without overlooking the specific requirements applicable to Northern Ireland.
Planning these steps from the earliest stages of development helps reduce regulatory risks, avoid last-minute changes and facilitate access to new markets.