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Eaux de toilette, aftershave, alcohol-based mists: two regimes apply at the same time — a cosmetic product under EU rules, and dangerous goods for transport. Here is the full path, step by step.
A perfume or an eau de toilette is not an ordinary parcel. Two regimes apply at once:
One distinction changes everything: not all overseas territories fall under the same law.
The transport constraint, however, is the same everywhere: sea shipments from China follow the international maritime rules for dangerous goods. In other words, the file must be ready before the goods leave China, not on arrival.
The Regulation designates a responsible person established in the European Union: their name and address appear on the label, and they must be able to show the product file to the inspection authorities. A factory in China cannot hold that role: it falls to the importer, the distributor, or an appointed representative established in the EU.
The responsible person is not a paperwork formality: they are the one who answers for compliance, labelling and the content of the file.
Before the product is placed on the market, its safety must be assessed and a safety report drawn up by a qualified assessor. That report is part of the product information file, which the responsible person must keep and be able to present.
It is not an analysis of every bottle: the assessor starts from the exact formula and the technical data, then adds specific tests:
Good news: manufacturers often carry out these tests for their customers. So we start by asking the factory what already exists, and only complete in a laboratory what is missing. The report then follows the product as long as the formula does not change.
Before first placing on the market, the product must be notified through the European portal, based on the safety file. Notification is free of charge and, once made, no further national notification is required within the Union: a single one therefore covers Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, La Réunion and Saint-Martin. For communities outside the Union (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy), local obligations differ and must be checked case by case.
Labelling is the most frequent point of control. The label must carry, in the language required by the market:
Re-labelling on arrival costs more than a label validated before shipment: it is one of the few areas where planning ahead saves money.
Alcohol-based perfume products are shipped as UN 1266, class 3 (flammable liquids). The flash point determines the packing group (II or III), and therefore the permitted packaging and the shipping options.
Documents expected at booking and at loading:
That last point is the most often underestimated: it usually takes one to two weeks to obtain, and without it the carrier will not load the goods. It drives the schedule — so it must be started before booking freight, not after.
For small volumes, the limited quantities route remains possible, subject to packaging and marking conditions.
These costs are calculated on arrival: they depend on the declared value, the exact nature of the product and the territory. That is why a transport-only quote never tells the full cost of an import.
There is no prior authorisation for the cosmetic itself: what is required is that the product is assessed, that its file is complete, and that it is notified before being placed on the market. Transport, on the other hand, is regulated as dangerous goods.
No. It can provide the formula, the technical data sheets, the raw material specifications, and often the stability or microbiological tests. The safety assessment and the product file are the responsibility of the EU responsible person.
Yes for the cosmetic part: one assessment, one file, one notification — within the Union. Transport formalities and local taxes are handled for each shipment.
Because it is dangerous goods: certified packaging, specific documents, limited slots on vessels and stowage constraints.
Yes, under packaging and marking conditions, through the limited quantities route. For very small volumes, the question of the shipping mode arises: talk to us before ordering.
Planning to import perfume, eaux de toilette or alcohol-based cosmetics? We source in China, prepare the documentation and organise the shipment to your territory. Write to us or give us a call: let us look at your project together.
This guide reflects our understanding of the applicable rules as at the update date (October 2026). It is not legal advice, nor a recommendation, nor a regulatory opinion, and it does not replace validation by a qualified professional (safety assessor, customs broker). Rules change, and every product has its own specifics.
If you spot an error, an inaccuracy or a recent change, tell us: we correct it and update this page. Field feedback beats a frozen guide.