Ukraine further delays EU-aligned cosmetic safety rules

The Ukrainian government has delayed fully implementing cosmetics regulations that would align the country’s cosmetic rules with EU standards. The new rules will now take effect on July 31, 2027, instead of the original date, today, August 3, 2026. The push back gives beauty businesses an extra year to prepare. 

Cosmetics manufacturers and importers will be required to pass a notification procedure, conduct product safety assessments, prepare technical documentation, and meet responsible-person requirements.

The Ukrainian cabinet of ministers made the decision to delay the updated cosmetic rules through Resolution No. 976. Once implemented, the new cosmetic regulations would align Ukrainian rules with EU Regulation No. 1223/2009, which aims to improve product safety and protect consumers in the country.

However, the postponement marks the second delay to the original timeline that regulators made in two months. An earlier resolution in June introduced different transition periods based on different products’ compositions. However, at the time, it kept today’s deadline.

Since then, businesses have fought against the rules, citing concerns about the costs of upgraded safety conditions.

Notification and transition

Starting July 31, 2027, all new cosmetic products placed on the Ukrainian market must pass through a formal notification procedure. Cosmetics manufacturers and importers have to submit information about a product’s composition and production to a state registry.

Cosmetics manufacturers and importers will be required to conduct product safety assessments and prepare technical documentation. Submitting this data will fall under the notification procedure.

The notification procedure serves as an official notice to the government that the product is entering the local market.

Cosmetic products that are already on the market before the new deadline can continue to be sold until their expiration date. But, under the new rules, sellers must keep original documents, such as delivery notes, to prove the products were purchased before the transition period ended.

Ukrainian beauty businesses have warned that rapid implementation could raise cosmetics prices and disrupt supply.Distributors and retailers will also be required to verify the notifications of cosmetics before selling them, after the July 31, 2027, deadline. As such, they must organize documentation about where the products were sourced from to keep in their existing inventory.

The State Service of Ukraine for Medicines and Drug Control will monitor cosmetic companies’ compliance with the new rules. Ukrainian authorities will have the right to conduct inspections and seize violating products.

Pushback on price for EU alignment 

While the new rules are ultimately positioned to improve cosmetic safety in the country, Ukrainian domestic manufacturers could face potential cost increases of around 20–50% to align with European production and sales standards, according to domestic reporting.

The government approved the original regulation back in 2021, but provided a lengthy transition period to help businesses adapt and mitigate the accompanying expenses.

The industry has been pushing for more time and warned that the original August 2026 deadline today could impact cosmetics supply, raise prices, and lead to store closures. Cosmetic groups, backed by the European Business Association and the Association of Perfumery and Cosmetics of Ukraine, introduced a public petition calling for the postponement due to concerns about legal uncertainty.

Moreover, a new electronic notifications system was recently launched in Ukraine. Cosmetic manufacturers and importers can enter complete information for each cosmetic product stocked. At its launch, the electronic system was positioned as a transparent and unified process for accounting for cosmetics in Ukraine. 

“The launch of this system is another step toward Ukraine’s full integration into the European market and security standards,” said Maria Karchevych, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Health for Digital Development.