UK Cosmetics Guide
What is a CPSR?
A Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) is the written safety assessment every cosmetic product sold in the UK must have on file before it goes to market — including whipped soap. Without one, you can't legally sell, gift, or list your product.
What's actually in a CPSR?
A CPSR has two parts. Part A is the product's safety information: formulation breakdown, physicochemical data, microbiological quality, packaging, intended use, exposure data, and toxicological profile of every ingredient. Part B is the qualified safety assessor's conclusion, signed and dated, stating whether the product is safe under its intended and reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
Who can write one?
Part B must be signed off by a qualified safety assessor — usually a pharmacist, toxicologist, or someone holding an equivalent recognised qualification in medicine, pharmacy, toxicology, or a related discipline. You can write Part A yourself, but most indie makers hand the whole thing to an assessor so the paperwork is consistent.
CPSR vs SCPN — what's the difference?
The CPSR is the safety document. The SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification) is the registration — you upload the finished product details to the UK government's SCPN portal so it's legally notified. You need both before you can sell.
How much does a CPSR cost?
At Whipped Studio, whipped-soap CPSRs start at £150, with SCPN registration available as a £50 add-on. Pricing scales with the number of fragrance and colour variants in your formulation.
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CPSR FAQs
- What is a CPSR?
- A Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) is a written safety assessment required under UK Cosmetic Regulation (and EU Regulation 1223/2009) before a cosmetic product can be sold. It documents the formulation, intended use, and toxicological safety of the finished product, and must be signed off by a qualified safety assessor.
- Do I legally need a CPSR to sell whipped soap in the UK?
- Yes. Whipped soap is classified as a cosmetic product in the UK, so it cannot legally be sold or gifted without a valid CPSR on file and an SCPN notification on the gov.uk portal.
- Who can write a CPSR?
- Only a qualified cosmetic safety assessor — typically a pharmacist, toxicologist, or someone with an equivalent recognised qualification — can sign off Part B of a CPSR.
- How much does a CPSR cost?
- At Whipped Studio, CPSRs for whipped soap start at £150. The exact price depends on the number of fragrance and colour variants in the formulation.
- What's the difference between a CPSR and an SCPN?
- The CPSR is the safety document itself. The SCPN (Submit Cosmetic Product Notification) is the act of registering the finished product on the UK government's portal so it can legally be sold. You need both.