What is SCPN and when did it launch?

SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification) is the UK's mandatory cosmetic notification portal, managed by OPSS. It launched on January 1, 2021, replacing UK access to the EU CPNP system after Brexit. All cosmetics sold in Great Britain must be notified via SCPN before being placed on the market. The portal is free to use.

Who can submit an SCPN notification?

Only the UK Responsible Person can submit SCPN notifications. If you're a brand without UK presence, your appointed UK RP will submit on your behalf using their SCPN account. You cannot create an account or submit directly unless you are the designated UK RP. One RP can notify multiple products.

What information is required for SCPN notification?

SCPN requires: (1) Product name, category, and physical form; (2) UK Responsible Person details (name, address, contact); (3) Complete ingredient list with INCI names and CAS numbers; (4) Frame formulation selection; (5) Declaration of any CMR substances or nanomaterials; (6) Clear label images showing all text including ingredients and UK RP address.

When must I submit SCPN notification?

You must submit SCPN notification BEFORE placing the cosmetic product on the Great Britain market. There is no grace period—notification is required from the first day of sale or distribution. Selling without notification is a criminal offence. Plan to submit at least a few days before launch to allow for any portal issues.

How do I update an existing SCPN notification?

Log into the SCPN portal, find the product in your dashboard, and select 'Update notification'. Make the required changes (ingredients, name, label images, etc.) and submit. Updates for formula changes must be made within 1 month. If the UK RP changes, the new RP must create a new notification under their account.

What are the penalties for not notifying via SCPN?

Selling cosmetics in Great Britain without SCPN notification can result in unlimited fines in England and Wales (up to £5,000 in Scotland/NI). Providing false information can lead to fines plus imprisonment. Obstruction of enforcement officers carries up to 3 months imprisonment. OPSS actively enforces these requirements.

Do I need both SCPN and EU CPNP notifications for dual-market sales?

Yes. If you sell cosmetics in both Great Britain and the EU/EEA, you need separate notifications in both systems: SCPN for GB (submitted by UK RP) and CPNP for EU (submitted by EU RP). There is no data sharing between the systems. Each notification must be complete and accurate for its respective market.

What is a frame formulation and why does it matter?

A frame formulation is a predefined ingredient category used by poison control centers to provide emergency advice. When someone calls a poison helpline about a cosmetic exposure, the frame formulation helps advisors understand the product type quickly. Selecting the correct frame formulation is important for accurate emergency response—choose the option that best matches your product.

Submit Cosmetic Product Notification: UK SCPN Guide

How to Submit a UK Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN)

The Submit Cosmetic Product Notification (SCPN) portal is the UK's mandatory notification system for cosmetic products sold in Great Britain. Launched on January 1, 2021, SCPN replaced access to the EU's CPNP system for the GB market.

Legal Requirement

According to UK government guidance, you must submit an SCPN notification before placing a cosmetic product on the Great Britain market. Selling without notification is a criminal offence with penalties including unlimited fines.

SCPN notification is mandatory before selling cosmetics in Great Britain

Only the UK Responsible Person can submit SCPN notifications

Notification includes product details, ingredients, CMRs, and label images

SCPN is free to use—no registration or submission fees

Notifications must be updated within 1 month of product changes

SCPN number serves as proof of notification

Separate from EU CPNP—need both for dual-market sales

What is SCPN?

According to CTPA, the Submit Cosmetic Product Notification system is:

The UK's official cosmetic notification portal
Managed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)
Accessible at submit.cosmetic-product-notifications.service.gov.uk
Required for all cosmetics sold in Great Britain (not Northern Ireland)
Operational since January 1, 2021

SCPN System Overview
Feature	Details
Portal URL	submit.cosmetic-product-notifications.service.gov.uk
Launch Date	January 1, 2021
Cost	Free (no fees)
Geographic Scope	Great Britain only (England, Scotland, Wales)
Who Can Submit	UK Responsible Person only
Language	English
Managed By	Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)

Who Must Notify via SCPN?

According to UK government guidance, the UK Responsible Person must submit SCPN notifications:

SCPN Notification Responsibility
Scenario	Who Submits SCPN?	Notes
UK manufacturer	The manufacturer (as UK RP)	Direct submission
UK brand with contract manufacturer	The brand owner (as UK RP)	Brand holds RP status
EU company selling in UK	Appointed UK RP	UK RP submits on behalf of brand
US/non-EU company selling in UK	Appointed UK RP	UK RP submits on behalf of brand
UK importer	The importer (as UK RP)	Unless manufacturer appoints different UK RP
Distributor only	Not responsible	RP (manufacturer/importer) submits

Only UK RP Can Submit

SCPN accounts are linked to UK Responsible Persons. If you're a brand without UK presence, your appointed UK RP will submit notifications using their account. You cannot submit directly without being a UK RP.

When to Notify

According to SCPN guidance:

Notification must be submitted before placing product on GB market
"Placing on market" means first making available for distribution or sale
Applies to each individual product/shade/variant
No grace period—notification required from day one

SCPN Notification Timing Requirements
Event	Notification Requirement
New product launch in GB	Submit before first sale
Existing product (already notified)	No action unless changes
Formula change	Update within 1 month of change
Name change	Update within 1 month
UK RP change	Update immediately (new RP submits)
Product discontinued	Notify discontinuation (optional but recommended)
Label design change only	Update with new images

Required Information for SCPN

According to Cosmeservice and REACH24H, SCPN notifications require:

1. Product Identification

Product Information Required

Product name (as appears on label)
Product category (from predefined list)
Physical form (cream, liquid, powder, etc.)
Special product types (aerosol, nanomaterial, etc.)
Shades/variants (if applicable)
Target demographic (adults, children, etc.)

2. UK Responsible Person Details

UK RP Information Required
Field	Requirement
Company Name	Legal entity name of UK RP
Address	Full physical UK address
Contact Person	Named contact for authority queries
Email	Active email address
Phone	UK contact number

3. Ingredient Information

According to SCPN requirements:

Ingredient Disclosure Requirements

Complete ingredient list using INCI names
CAS numbers for each ingredient (where available)
Concentration ranges or exact percentages
Frame formulation category selection
Nanomaterials identified and flagged
CMR substances declared if present

4. Frame Formulation Selection

SCPN uses frame formulations (predefined ingredient categories) similar to EU CPNP:

Frame Formulation Categories (Examples)
Category	Example Products
Face cream/lotion	Moisturizers, serums, day/night creams
Shampoo	Regular shampoo, clarifying, treatment shampoo
Lipstick/lip gloss	Lip color, lip gloss, lip stain
Nail polish/varnish	Nail lacquer, gel polish, nail treatment
Perfume/EDT	Fragrances, eau de toilette, body mist
Sun protection	Sunscreen, SPF moisturizers
Hair dye	Permanent, semi-permanent, temporary color

5. CMR Substances Declaration

If your product contains Category 1A, 1B, or 2 Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, or Reprotoxic (CMR) substances:

CMR Declaration Required

According to UK regulations, CMR substances are generally prohibited in cosmetics. However, if permitted under specific conditions (e.g., professional use, low concentration exemptions), they must be declared in SCPN with justification.

6. Label Images

Label Image Requirements

Clear image of product container (all sides showing text)
Image of outer packaging (if different from container)
Legible ingredient list visible
UK RP address visible
File format: JPEG or PNG
Maximum file size: 20MB per image
Minimum resolution: readable text

Step-by-Step SCPN Submission Process

According to Taobé Consulting and BELAB:

How to Submit SCPN Notification

Create Account

Go to submit.cosmetic-product-notifications.service.gov.uk. Register using your email address. Verify your email and complete account setup. You'll need to confirm you are the UK Responsible Person.

Start New Notification

Log in and select 'Add a cosmetic product notification'. Choose whether this is a single product or part of a multi-shade range. Enter the product name exactly as it appears on the label.

Select Product Category

Choose the appropriate category from the dropdown list (e.g., face cream, shampoo, lipstick). This determines the frame formulation options available. Select physical form (cream, liquid, etc.).

Enter Ingredient List

Add all ingredients using INCI names. Enter CAS numbers where available. Specify concentrations or select the appropriate range. Flag any nanomaterials. Declare any CMR substances with justification.

Select Frame Formulation

Choose the predefined frame formulation that best matches your product. This is used by poison control centers for emergency advice. If no exact match, select closest option.

Enter UK RP Details

Confirm or enter your UK Responsible Person information including company name, address, contact person, email, and phone number.

Upload Label Images

Upload clear images of product container showing all text. Upload outer packaging images if different. Ensure ingredient list and UK RP address are legible.

Review and Submit

Review all entered information for accuracy. Confirm declarations are correct. Submit notification. You'll receive an SCPN reference number and can download a PDF confirmation.

SCPN Number and Confirmation

After successful submission:

SCPN Notification Outputs
Output	Description	Use
SCPN Reference Number	Unique identifier for the notification	Proof of notification, reference for updates
PDF Confirmation	Downloadable summary of notification	Record keeping, authority requests
Email Confirmation	Notification receipt sent to registered email	Confirmation of successful submission
Dashboard Entry	Visible in your SCPN account dashboard	Managing and updating notifications

Keep Your SCPN Number

The SCPN reference number is your proof of notification. Store it safely and reference it when updating notifications or responding to authority queries. It's not required on product labels but useful for internal records.

Updating SCPN Notifications

According to SCPN guidance, updates are required for:

When to Update SCPN Notification
Change	Update Required?	Timeframe
Formula/ingredient change	Yes	Within 1 month
Concentration change	Yes	Within 1 month
Product name change	Yes	Within 1 month
UK RP change	Yes	Immediately (new RP submits)
Label redesign (same info)	Yes	Update images
New shades in range	Yes	Before placing on market
Product discontinued	Recommended	When discontinued

Penalties for Non-Compliance

According to OPSS enforcement policy:

SCPN Non-Compliance Penalties
Offence	England/Wales	Scotland/NI
Selling without SCPN notification	Unlimited fine	Up to £5,000
Providing false information	Unlimited fine + imprisonment	Up to £5,000 + imprisonment
Failure to update notification	Fine	Fine
Obstruction of enforcement	Up to 3 months imprisonment	Up to 3 months imprisonment

SCPN vs. EU CPNP

According to CE.way, brands selling in both markets need both notifications:

SCPN vs. EU CPNP Comparison
Aspect	UK SCPN	EU CPNP
Geographic Scope	Great Britain only	EU 27 + EEA
Who Submits	UK Responsible Person	EU Responsible Person
Launch Date	January 1, 2021	July 11, 2013
Cost	Free	Free
Poison Centre Data	Separate submission to NHS	Integrated via Annex VIII
Frame Formulations	Yes	Yes (more detailed)
CMR Declaration	Required	Required
Label Images	Required	Required
Account System	gov.uk account	EU Login (ECAS)

Dual Notification Required

If you sell in both UK and EU markets, you need: - SCPN notification (submitted by UK RP) for Great Britain - CPNP notification (submitted by EU RP) for EU/EEA - These are separate systems with no data transfer between them

Common SCPN Mistakes to Avoid

According to Sushvin:

Common SCPN Submission Errors

Missing CAS numbers for ingredients (include where available)
Incorrect INCI nomenclature (use official INCI names)
Wrong frame formulation selection (affects poison centre advice)
Low-quality label images (text must be legible)
Missing UK RP contact details (all fields required)
Forgetting to update after formula changes (must update within 1 month)
Submitting before UK RP is properly appointed
Not declaring nanomaterials (must flag if present)
Incomplete concentration information

Need Help with SCPN Notification?

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