UK Cosmetics Guide
SCPN: the UK product notification, explained
SCPN stands for Submit Cosmetic Product Notification. It's the UK government portal where every cosmetic product — whipped soap included — must be registered before it can be sold in Great Britain.
SCPN vs CPNP — am I in the right place?
Since Brexit there are two separate notification systems:
- SCPN — UK portal, required for products sold in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales).
- CPNP — EU portal, required for products sold in the EU and Northern Ireland.
Selling into both markets means notifying on both portals — the underlying CPSR can be the same document, but each region needs its own registration.
What you need before you can submit
You can't submit an SCPN without a finished CPSR (Cosmetic Product Safety Report). The portal asks for the responsible person, product details, frame formulation, category, and a label image — all of which come from the CPSR.
How much does SCPN cost?
The gov.uk SCPN portal is free if you submit yourself. Whipped Studio's done-for-you submission is £50 when added to a CPSR, so you don't have to learn the portal.
Get your whipped soap notified
CPSR + SCPN bundled — from £200, fully compliant, ready to sell.
SCPN FAQs
- What is an SCPN?
- SCPN stands for Submit Cosmetic Product Notification. It's the UK government portal where every cosmetic product sold in Great Britain must be notified before being placed on the market. It replaced the EU CPNP for the UK market after Brexit.
- Is the SCPN the same as the EU CPNP?
- No. The CPNP is the EU's Cosmetic Products Notification Portal, used for products sold in the EU and Northern Ireland. The SCPN is the equivalent UK portal for Great Britain. If you sell into both markets you need to notify on both.
- Do I need an SCPN for whipped soap?
- Yes. Whipped soap is a cosmetic product under UK law, so every formulation you sell must be notified on the SCPN portal — even small batches and one-offs.
- Can I submit the SCPN myself?
- Yes, you can submit it yourself once you have a valid CPSR. Most indie makers ask their safety assessor to handle the submission so the details on the portal match the CPSR exactly.
- How much does SCPN registration cost?
- The gov.uk SCPN portal itself is free. Whipped Studio's done-for-you SCPN submission is £50 when added to a CPSR, so you don't have to learn the portal yourself.