How to sell imported cosmetics and Asian cosmetics in Japan? Required procedures and points to note
Updated: July 2025, 9
In recent years, "Asian cosmetics" such as Korean and Chinese brands have been gaining attention and are becoming increasingly popular in the Japanese market. We are receiving an increasing number of inquiries from D2C brands and retailers who want to sell overseas cosmetics in Japan but don't know what to do.
The import and sale of cosmetics is subject to various regulations, including the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, and failure to follow the proper procedures carries the risk of sales being suspended or administrative guidance being issued. This article explains the necessary procedures and points to note when selling imported cosmetics in Japan.
Background to the market expansion of the imported cosmetics business
- As the number of tourists visiting Japan recovers, demand from foreign consumers is expanding.
- Asian brands, particularly those from Korea and China, have become increasingly popular.
- Sales of imported cosmetics are also rapidly increasing through small-scale e-commerce and D2C models.
Amid this trend, an increasing number of companies are considering entering the market, making it important to comply with laws and regulations.
Main procedures for selling imported cosmetics in Japan
Acquisition of a cosmetics manufacturing and sales license
To sell cosmetics in Japan,"Cosmetics manufacturing and sales license"will be required in addition to your identification documents.
Requirements for obtaining a "Cosmetics Manufacturing and Sales License"There are five main ones.
- Appointment of a general manufacturing and sales manager *Cannot be involved in sales departments such as sales.
- Preparation of operational manuals based on the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act (GQP, GVP procedure manuals)
- Not falling under any of the "grounds for disqualification" (not being a drug addict, etc.)
It takes about two to four months to obtain permission, depending on the prefecture where the license office is located.
For details on procedures and requirements, please click here.
Cosmetics manufacturing and sales license
Cosmetics manufacturing license acquisition and labeling responsibility
If you store imported cosmetics in-house,"Cosmetics manufacturing license"It is also necessary to obtain
"Cosmetics manufacturing license"are divided into two categories: general category and packaging, labeling and storage category.
When you think of manufacturing, many people think of manufacturing, but in some cases, even just storing"Cosmetics manufacturing license (packaging, labeling, and storage classification)"Is required.
If you are unsure which permits are required for your company's planned manufacturing flow, please contact us.
About cosmetics manufacturing license
In addition, cosmetics are required to list all ingredients in Japanese.
The order of labeling is also fixed, and if there is an error, the product may need to be recalled, so it is necessary to clarify who is responsible for labeling before improving labeling.
For products that are already sold overseas, even if they are approved overseas, there may be ingredients or wording that cannot be used in Japan, so it is essential to check with authorities and experts in advance.
We also check the legal labeling of products, and consider advertising and sales names.
Product Notification
So far, we have explained the procedures for importing and selling cosmetics.
However, just getting a license does not mean you can sell the product.
For product sales,"Cosmetic manufacturing and sales notification","Notification of Cosmetics (Foreign Manufacturer/Distributor)" is required.
The above two notifications are product registration procedures and foreign manufacturer registration procedures, respectively.
There are strict rules regarding product sales names, such as the alphabet not being allowed to make up more than half of the total, so we recommend checking in advance whether it is usable.
Summary|Avoid risks with expert support
Selling imported cosmetics is a huge business opportunity, but at the same time, there are many legal and practical hurdles to overcome.
If you feel unsure about whether you should proceed on your own or don't know what procedures to start with, please take advantage of our free consultation service.
Inquiries by phone
Support Administrative Scriveners Corporation Tokyo Head Office
03-5325-1355(Weekdays 12:13-18:XNUMX, XNUMX:XNUMX-XNUMX:XNUMX)
