Regulatory & Compliance

GCC Technical Regulation on Cosmetics — What It Covers and What You Need to Know

The Gulf Cooperation Council operates a unified technical regulation for cosmetic products that applies across all six member states: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Known formally as GSO 1943 (GCC Technical Regulation for Cosmetics), this regulation provides the baseline framework that governs what can be sold, how it must be labelled, and which ingredients are permitted or restricted across the entire GCC market.

Understanding this regulation is foundational for any brand — whether UAE-based or importing from outside the GCC — that wants to sell cosmetics across the region. While each member state applies it through its own national authority, the core requirements are harmonised, which means getting it right once covers a lot of ground.

What is the GCC Technical Regulation on Cosmetics (GSO 1943)?

GSO 1943 is the Gulf Standard Organisation’s technical regulation on cosmetic products. It is broadly modelled on EU Regulation 1223/2009 — the same regulation that underpins CPNP — and shares many of its core principles: a safety-first approach, prohibited and restricted ingredient lists, mandatory labelling requirements, and pre-market notification rather than traditional product registration.

The regulation covers the definition of cosmetic products, general safety requirements, prohibited substances, restricted substances with concentration limits, colourants permitted for use, preservatives permitted for use, UV filters permitted for use, labelling requirements, and notification requirements.

Individual GCC member states implement the regulation through their own competent authorities. In the UAE, this is MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention) via the Montaji platform. In Saudi Arabia, it is SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority). Each authority may have additional national requirements layered on top of the GCC baseline.

Scope — which products are covered?

GSO 1943 defines cosmetic products broadly, covering any substance or mixture intended for external application to the body for purposes of cleaning, perfuming, changing appearance, protection, or odour correction. This includes perfumes, skincare, haircare, colour cosmetics, bath and body products, sun protection, deodorants, oral care, and baby cosmetic products.

Products that sit on the boundary between cosmetics and medicines — such as anti-dandruff shampoos with certain active concentrations, or topical products making therapeutic claims — may be regulated differently by individual member states. If your product makes a medicinal claim, seek specific regulatory advice for each market.

Prohibited ingredients under GCC regulation

The GCC regulation maintains an annex of substances prohibited in cosmetic products. This list is aligned with but not identical to the EU prohibited list. Substances prohibited include a wide range of compounds covering heavy metals at or above specified limits, certain hormones, specific preservatives at concentrations above permitted levels, and a number of compounds with identified safety concerns.

Rather than attempting to list all prohibited substances here — the list runs to hundreds of entries and is updated periodically — the practical approach is to work with a manufacturer who maintains current awareness of the GCC restricted and prohibited substance lists and formulates accordingly. Any GMP-certified manufacturer experienced in GCC export should have this embedded in their quality management system.

GCC labelling requirements

GSO 1943 specifies mandatory labelling requirements that apply to all cosmetics sold across the GCC. These requirements apply to Arabic labelling in addition to any other language on the pack. Key mandatory elements include:

The Arabic labelling requirement is non-negotiable for GCC markets. Products entering the GCC without Arabic labelling will not pass customs clearance. If your product is also sold in international markets with English-only labelling, you will need GCC-specific label artwork with Arabic text incorporated.

The GCC customs union — one market or six?

The GCC customs union means that a product cleared through one GCC member state’s port of entry can circulate within the GCC without additional import duties. However, regulatory clearance is not automatically transferable between member states. Each country’s national authority independently verifies compliance with the GCC regulation, and some markets — particularly Saudi Arabia through SFDA — have additional registration requirements beyond the GCC baseline.

In practice, UAE-manufactured products that comply with MOHAP requirements and the GCC technical regulation can typically be exported to other GCC states without additional product registration in most cases. However, Saudi Arabia is the significant exception — SFDA operates a separate registration system that requires its own submission regardless of MOHAP clearance.

How GCC regulation aligns with EU regulation

The deliberate alignment of GSO 1943 with EU Regulation 1223/2009 is significant for brands planning to sell in both the EU and GCC markets. A product formulated to EU cosmetics standards will satisfy most — but not all — GCC requirements. The main areas of difference to check include:

• Arabic labelling — required for GCC, not for EU
• Local agent information — GCC requires importer/agent details on pack; EU does not
• Specific ingredient limits — some substances have different maximum concentrations in GCC vs EU regulation; always verify current limits for key actives
• Halal considerations — not a formal part of the technical regulation but increasingly expected by GCC retail buyers, particularly in pharmacy and modern trade
• Sunscreen regulation — GCC has specific requirements for sunscreen products that differ in some respects from EU regulation

Product safety — the GCC requirement

Like the EU, GSO 1943 requires that cosmetic products be safe for human health under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. The responsibility for demonstrating safety lies with the manufacturer and the local authorised agent. While the GCC does not mandate a formal safety assessment document equivalent to the EU’s CPSR, it requires that safety data be available to authorities on request.

For GMP-certified manufacturers, routine quality documentation — batch records, stability test data, microbiological testing, raw material certificates — constitutes the core of the safety evidence package. This is one reason why GMP certification is a practical asset for GCC market access, even where it is not formally mandated by the regulation.

Enforcement and market surveillance

GCC regulatory authorities conduct market surveillance activities including product testing, label compliance checks, and factory audits. Enforcement actions have included product recalls and bans, particularly for skin-lightening products found to contain prohibited concentrations of mercury, hydroquinone, or corticosteroids. These enforcement actions tend to receive significant media coverage in the region and can have reputational consequences beyond the immediate recall.

The practical lesson: working with a manufacturer who formulates within permitted ingredient lists and can provide full documentation is the best protection against enforcement action. Post-market compliance is as important as pre-market registration.

Summary

The GCC Technical Regulation on Cosmetics (GSO 1943) provides a harmonised framework for cosmetics across all six GCC member states. It aligns closely with EU regulation, requiring safe formulations from permitted ingredient lists, Arabic labelling, importer identification, and pre-market notification through national authorities. UAE-based manufacturers whose products comply with MOHAP requirements and the GCC technical regulation are generally well-positioned for regional distribution, with Saudi Arabia requiring separate SFDA registration as the most significant additional step.