To keep your skin healthy, you need to use body lotion. They hydrate, calm, and are becoming more and more tailored to the needs of health-conscious customers. You can make a hydrating mix for dry skin or a natural formula full of plant extracts. The European market has a lot of room for growth. You can’t just have a great product to get into the EU; you also have to follow a very strict set of rules.
Step by step, this guide will show you how to sell your body lotion in the EU legally and successfully.
Step 1: Why the EU Market for Body Lotions Is Full of Potential
Overview of EU Regulation 1223/2009
All cosmetic products sold in the EU must follow Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. It makes sure that consumers are safe and that things are clear. It controls everything from safety checks and labeling to banned substances and responsible advertising. All cosmetic products sold in the EU must follow Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. It makes sure that consumers are safe and that things are clear. It controls everything from safety checks and labeling to banned substances and responsible advertising.
What is required before you can sell body lotions?
If you want to sell body lotion in the EU, you need to:
- Pick an EU resident to be the Responsible Person (RP).
- Write a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR)
- Create a Product Information File (PIF)
- Let the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP) know about the item.
- Follow the rules and make sure your labels and claims are correct.
These steps are the same for all brands, no matter how big or small they are.
Step 3: Prepare the CPSR (Cosmetic Product Safety Report)
What does a CPSR include for body lotions?
Every product needs a detailed safety document called a CPSR. It has:
- The exact amounts of each ingredient in the product, using INCI names
- Toxicological profile: information about the safety of each substance
- Information about stability and compatibility that shows the product won’t break down or react with the packaging
- Microbiological quality, which may include tests for preservation challenges if necessary
- Label and directions for use, including warnings, safety tips, and how to use it correctly
Certified Cosmetics’ role in getting your CPSR done
We make this process easier for you at Certified Cosmetics. Once you give our expert assessors the formulation and any other paperwork they need, they will make your CPSR according to the most recent EU standards.
Step 4: Create the Product Information File (PIF)
Documents you need to include:
The PIF is like a file for your product and needs to be easy for authorities to get to. It has:
- Final recipe and ingredient requirements
- The CPSR method of making things and the GMP statement
- Artwork and claims on labels
- Results of microbiological and stability tests
- Proof of effect (if you say things like “firming” or “deep hydration” to show that they work)
Certified Cosmetics helps you put together your PIF so that it is complete and ready for an audit.
Step 5: Notify Your Product via the CPNP
What is the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP)?
The CPNP is the official online place for the European Commission to register cosmetics. Before a product can be sold, it must be submitted here. This makes it easier for poison centers and market surveillance authorities to find information.
How Certified Cosmetics Helps with CPNP Registration
At Certified Cosmetics, we take care of the details, like setting up your account, uploading data, and making sure that the documentation for your product matches what you send in. You will get a confirmation when your lotion is on the market and ready to sell.
Step 6: Assign a Responsible Person (RP)
Who can be the RP and what are their legal duties?
The Responsible Person (RP) is very important for making sure that EU cosmetics are safe. This person or company, which is based in the EU, is legally responsible for the safety of the product, the regulatory paperwork, and its presence in the market.
The RP has these responsibilities:
- Making sure the product meets the requirements of EU Regulation 1223/2009
- Keeping the Product Information File (PIF) up to date and giving it to authorities when they ask for it
- Submitting and keeping track of the CPNP notification
- Being the first person to talk to about complaints or safety issues
- Keeping an eye on compliance after the market and recalling products if necessary
Why a local RP is critical for compliance
You can’t be your own Responsible Person if you live outside the EU. This means that you have to choose an RP based in the EU; it’s not a choice.
A local RP makes sure that regulators get answers quickly, that there is help in the local language, and that the company is protected in all of its jurisdictions. If there are delays or miscommunication, the government can take action, fine you, or take away your product. Certified Cosmetics offers reliable RP services, so you can be sure that your product has a representative in Europe who is compliant and responsive.
Step 7: Compliant Labeling & Claims for Body Lotions
Mandatory elements on the label
It’s against the law not to label a product correctly, and it shows professionalism. The label needs to have:
- The product’s purpose, such as “moisturizing body lotion”
- List of ingredients with their INCI names
- Nominal content by weight or volume, such as 250 ml
- Date of expiration or the time after opening (PAO)
- Number of the batch for keeping track
- Name and address of the person in charge
- Place of origin (if it was brought in)
- Instructions or warnings for use, such as “For external use only”
This information needs to be clear, permanent, and easy to read.
Avoiding misleading or prohibited cosmetic claims
Words like “hypoallergenic,” “clinically proven,” or “dermatologically tested” need to have real proof behind them. If you say things like “heals cracked skin” or “treats eczema,” you are saying that the product is a medicine, which would change its classification.
The European Union Commission Regulation (EU) No. 655/2013 sets rules for how to make claims about proof, justification, and communication. You can use Certified Cosmetics to check your claims and make sure they are both legal and effective.
Step 8: Formulate with Market Trends in Mind
Keywords to target: “vegan”, “organic”, “paraben-free”, “natural”
People in the EU today are well-informed and value honesty. People who buy body lotion are looking for:
- Vegan formulas that don’t have any animal products in them
- Natural or organic ingredients
- No parabens, sulfates, or synthetic scents
- Options that won’t clog pores or have been tested on skin
Customers will be more interested in products that meet these needs, and they will also show up higher in organic search results.
Packaging & sustainability expectations in the EU
Sustainability is no longer just a fad; it’s becoming the way things are done. If you use eco-friendly packaging, European stores and customers will be more likely to buy from you. Here are some ideas:
- Using packaging that can be reused, recycled, or broken down
- Whenever you can, choose glass or aluminum over plastic and use less plastic.
- Clearly showing how to throw things away
- Not using laminates that can’t be recycled and cutting down on extra packaging
Step 9: Marketing & Selling Online Across the EU
Selling through your website or marketplaces
You can sell on your own website or on big online stores like Amazon, Notino, Etsy, and niche beauty sites. No matter where you sell, your product listings must:
- Make sure your product label and PIF information match.
- Use claims and language that are in line with the law
- Add a full INCI list, instructions for use, and safety tips
- Be translated into the right EU languages for your market.
If you’re selling online, it’s essential to understand the regulatory implications. For a full breakdown of what’s required, read our detailed guide: Do You Need a CPSR to Sell Cosmetics Online in the EU?
FAQ: Selling Body Lotions in the EU
Q1. Do I need a CPSR for each fragrance of my body lotion?
Yes. Each variation with a different formulation (including scent) needs its own CPSR.
Q2. Can I sell homemade body lotion if it’s organic?
Yes, but it still needs to register with the CPSR, PIF, and CPNP, which are all EU rules.
Q3. What if my label is only in English?
Labels must be in the official language(s) of every EU country where the product is sold.
Q4. Can I sell before registering on the CPNP?
No. You can’t sell a cosmetic product in the EU until you tell the CPNP about it.
Q5. Do I need animal testing?
No. The EU does not allow animal testing for cosmetics or their ingredients. Only other ways are okay.
Conclusion
If your body lotion is compliant from day one, you can sell it in the EU and reach millions of smart, high-value customers.
We at Certified Cosmetics offer personalized help at every stage:
- Professional toxicologists get ready for the CPSR
- PIF compilation and review RP services for brands not in the EU
- Registration with the CPNP and compliance with labels and marketing
Start with a CPSR for body lotions. Find out more about Certified Cosmetics’ compliance services.
