Cosmetics
Importing CosmeticsTo import and sell cosmetics in Korea, you must register as a Responsible Cosmetics Seller and, for every shipment, file a Standard Pre-Clearance Report with the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association (KPTA) before customs clearance. Functional cosmetics also require a review or a report for each product. Below we outline the covered products, the import process, and the required documents. (Cosmetics Act, Arts. 3 and 4; Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Art. 12, subpara. 9)
Products Subject to the Standard Pre-Clearance Report
- Cosmetics — Products applied to the body by rubbing, spreading, spraying, or similar methods to clean and beautify it, enhance attractiveness, brighten one's appearance, or maintain or improve the health of the skin and hair, and that have only a mild effect on the body. Pharmaceuticals under Article 2, subparagraph 4 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act are excluded.
- Functional cosmetics — Products that help whiten the skin, reduce wrinkles, tan the skin evenly or protect it from UV rays, change the color of, remove, or nourish hair, or prevent or relieve dryness, cracking, hair loss, keratinization, and similar problems caused by weakened skin or hair function.
(Cosmetics Act, Art. 2, subparas. 1 and 2; Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Art. 2)
Import Process
Before importingRegister as a Responsible Cosmetics Seller
Meet the quality control standards and the post-market safety management standards, appoint a responsible sales manager, and register with the Minister of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Functional cosmetics must be reviewed or reported product by product (see "Functional Cosmetics Review" below), and the list of ingredients used in manufacturing must be reported before distribution or sale. (Cosmetics Act, Arts. 3, 4, and 5(5); Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Art. 8 and Annexes 1 and 2)
For every shipmentStandard Pre-Clearance Report
Before clearance, file a Standard Pre-Clearance Report with the KPTA as an electronic trade document, then submit the import declaration to customs with that report attached. (Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Art. 12, subpara. 9; Consolidated Public Notice, Art. 35(4))
After clearanceQuality testing and Korean labeling
Test each manufacturing batch for quality. Only products that pass may be sold, and only after Korean labeling is added to the container or packaging. (Cosmetics Act, Art. 12; Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Art. 12, subpara. 5)
Starting in 2028, Responsible Cosmetics Sellers must prepare safety assessment data for each product before distribution or sale, have it reviewed by a safety assessor, and keep it on file. The requirement will be phased in from January 1, 2028 to January 1, 2031 depending on factors such as production or import value, and some businesses, such as those that broker import-agency transactions, are exempt. (Cosmetics Act, Art. 4-2; Addenda to Act No. 21302 of December 30, 2025, Art. 1)
Functional Cosmetics Review
To import and sell functional cosmetics, you must, for each product, either submit a functional cosmetics review request with the materials below to the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) for review, or submit a report to the MFDS. Items 1 to 4 are not required for products whose ingredients and concentrations are set out in an MFDS notice, and item 5 is not required for products whose standards and test methods are set out in an MFDS notice. (Cosmetics Act, Art. 4; Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Art. 9)
- Data on origin and development history
- Safety data
- Data on efficacy or function
- Supporting data for the SPF and UVA protection grade — only for cosmetics that protect the skin by blocking or scattering UV rays
- Data on standards and test methods (including samples)
Required Documents
| Required Documents | How to Submit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Pre-Clearance Report application | Electronic document | Prepared on an application website (web provider); you can also apply through the Korea Customs Service customs portal |
| Business registration certificate Responsible Cosmetics Seller registration certificate Functional cosmetics documents | Online submission or copies by mail | Online submission is available on the application website |
| Certificate of manufacture Certificate of free sale | Online submission or originals by mail | Online submission is available on the application website Originals can be returned |
| TSE (BSE) documents | Originals by mail | Not returned |
Original certificates of manufacture and free sale are required in the following cases:
- The first product imported by a Responsible Cosmetics Seller importing for the first time
- Documents that are bound, embossed, or notarized on the back
- Cases requiring further verification
Document Requirements
| Document | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Certificate of manufacture (original) | Issued by the manufacturer and signed by the responsible officer. It must state the product name, ingredient names (with the Color Index No. for colorants, and including preservatives), ingredient amounts (mandatory for ingredients the MFDS has designated as restricted), and ingredient specifications, with supporting data for those specifications attached, and it must be notarized. If issued by a company that outsources manufacturing, the certificate must also state the name and address of the contract manufacturer. |
| Certificate of free sale (original) | Issued by a government or public body (including a cosmetics association or chamber of commerce) of the country of production or sale. It must state the manufacturer and product name and certify that the product is sold in that country. |
| TSE (BSE) documents (original) | BSE-free certificate Required if the product uses ingredients derived from ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, etc.) from countries designated by the MFDS. It certifies that the material is free of TSE (BSE) and is issued by a government or public body of the exporting country. Certificate of non-use Required if the product does not use ruminant-derived ingredients from countries designated by the MFDS. It certifies that the ingredients come from other animals, plants, or chemical synthesis. It is issued by the manufacturer with the product (ingredient names) stated, signed by the responsible officer, and notarized. Certificate of origin Required if the product contains ruminant-derived ingredients from countries other than those designated by the MFDS. It certifies the origin of the animals used in the product. |
(Certificates of manufacture and free sale: Consolidated Public Notice, Art. 31(2))
Without Certificates of Manufacture and Free Sale (Parallel Imports)
To parallel-import and sell cosmetics already imported into Korea without certificates of manufacture and free sale, you must have an import/export requirement verification agency confirm, for each shipment and each manufacturing batch, that the products are identical to those already imported. The agency checks the appearance (including product name and weight or volume) and the ingredient list on the container or packaging. After confirmation, each batch must pass quality testing at a testing laboratory designated under the Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act before it can be sold. (Consolidated Public Notice, Art. 34(2) and (3))
Tell us which cosmetics you plan to import and whether they are functional cosmetics, and we will walk you through the registration, review, and Standard Pre-Clearance Report you need.
Email a Quote Request or InquiryLaws and requirements as of October 27, 2026