Cosmetics and health products online in Singapore

Information checked as of 11 October 2026

Skincare, makeup and supplements sell well online, but in Singapore the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) regulates them, and the rules depend on how HSA classifies your product. A face cream, a collagen drink and an acne treatment each fall under different rules. This guide explains the main categories, what a Singapore seller has to do before listing on Shopify, the claims you can't make, and what to check with couriers and payment providers.

This is general information, not legal advice. It summarises HSA, Singapore Statutes Online and carrier pages as of the date above. HSA's classification of a product can turn on its ingredients and claims, so use HSA's classification tools or enquiry form for any product you're unsure about.

The short version

• Cosmetics need a product notification, not an approval. Importers and manufacturers notify HSA before supplying, through its PRISM e-service, and renew every year. HSA doesn't evaluate the product.
• Health supplements don't need HSA approval or a licence, but the seller is responsible for safe ingredients, a compliant English label and claims that don't suggest treating or preventing disease.
• Chinese proprietary medicines need HSA product listing approval and a dealer's licence. Traditional medicines (Malay and Indian) don't need approval but face tight claims rules.
• Medical devices must be registered (except low-risk Class A) and dealers need a licence. Selling prescription medicines or unregistered devices online is illegal, and contact lenses can't be sold online.
• The product's claims decide its category. A "treatment" claim on a cosmetic, or a disease claim on a supplement, can put it in the wrong category and break the rules.
• Shopify Payments won't support some of these products. Prescription drugs, medical devices and unverified health claims are prohibited there.

Step 1: Work out what your product is

HSA defines a cosmetic product as something placed in contact with the external parts of the body to clean, perfume, change the appearance of, correct odours of, protect or keep them in good condition. Its classification guide gives examples that are cosmetics (creams and lotions, make-up, soaps, perfumes, deodorants, hair dyes, sunbathing products, skin whitening and anti-wrinkle products, baby wipes) and examples that are not:

• products you swallow, such as beauty supplements and collagen drinks (supplements, or food if they come as drinks and biscuits)
• products for treating a condition, such as anti-fungal or antiseptic creams and creams for eczema, acne and psoriasis
• medicated oils and balms, massage oils for blood circulation or stress relief, and hand sanitisers with antiseptic properties
• injectables such as lip fillers and tattoo ink
• medical devices such as bandages and contact lenses, and tools like razors, hair straighteners and make-up brushes, which aren't cosmetic products either

HSA runs a self-help complementary health product classification tool for supplements, traditional medicines and Chinese proprietary medicines. For a borderline product, send HSA a classification enquiry before you list it.

Cosmetics: notification, ingredients and labels

Who must notify HSA

HSA says manufacturers and importers of cosmetic products must notify their products before supplying them in Singapore. The Regulations on Singapore Statutes Online say the person responsible for placing a cosmetic product on the market is the person in Singapore who is instrumental in causing it to be available for sale. HSA adds that:

• You must notify even if another Singapore company has already notified the same product from the same manufacturer.
• Every variant needs its own notification, such as each lipstick shade or shampoo scent. Different pack sizes of the same product don't.
• Samples for promotion and products used only for research or trial are exempt from notification, but must still meet the labelling and ingredient rules.

If you sell a brand you buy from a Singapore distributor, ask who holds the notification. If you bring products in yourself, or ship them to Singapore customers from an overseas supplier, you may be the party who needs to notify. That is our reading of HSA's wording, so confirm it with HSA before launch.

How notification works

• You need a local ACRA-registered entity, a Corppass account and a CRIS account, then you submit through PRISM. See our ACRA registration guide for the first step.
• You can start selling once you receive the automatic acknowledgement. HSA says the acknowledgement is not an endorsement of safety or quality.
• A notification is valid for one year, and re-notification is needed each year to keep selling. Fees are on HSA's cosmetic product fees page, so check it rather than relying on a number here.
• You must keep records of supply for two years, provide safety and technical information on request, report serious adverse events and defects, and recall unsafe products.

Ingredients and labels

Before notifying, check ingredients against the annexes of the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. They list prohibited substances, restricted substances, and the colouring agents, preservatives and UV filters that are allowed. HSA updated them in June 2026 and you should check the latest version rather than an old copy.

Labels must be in English and carry:

• the product name and function, and instructions for use, unless obvious
• a full ingredient list in descending order by weight at the time of addition
• country of manufacture, plus the name and address of the company responsible for placing it on the Singapore market
• contents by weight or volume, and the batch number
• a manufacturing or expiry date (expiry is mandatory if shelf life is under 30 months)
• special precautions and any warnings the annexes require

If other languages are used, they must match the English text. Put the same details on your Shopify product page, because customers can't pick up the box online.

Cosmetic claims

HSA says cosmetic advertising can't claim to modify a physiological process (it gives the example of reversing hair loss) or to prevent or treat a disease or medical condition. Claims must fit the definition of a cosmetic, be backed by evidence or the formulation, follow the ASEAN Cosmetic Claim Guideline and comply with the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice. "Heals eczema" or "treats acne" on a moisturiser page moves it out of cosmetics.

Health supplements

HSA says health supplements are not subject to approval or licensing for import, manufacture or sale, and HSA does not evaluate them before sale. The seller is responsible. In practice:

• What counts. Small-dose forms such as capsules, softgels, tablets and liquids containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics and similar ingredients. Biscuits, cookies, coffee and juice are not health supplements, and food-like products fall under the Singapore Food Agency (see our food selling guide).
• Ingredients. No steroids or other medicinal ingredients, no substances that are controlled by the Poisons Act or Misuse of Drugs Act, and no active substance that is missing from the label. HSA sets limits for toxic heavy metals and some ingredients have maximum daily doses. Follow HSA's guidelines on prohibited and restricted ingredients.
• Labels. In English: product and brand name, dosage form, active ingredients and quantities, intended purpose, dosage and directions, batch number, expiry date, country of manufacture, local importer or product owner, contraindications and warnings, storage condition and pack size.
• Voluntary notification. A company can voluntarily notify HSA, but HSA warns that listing is not approval. Saying "HSA-approved" is a false claim.

What you can and can't say

HSA's claims guide allows claims that support or maintain health or a physiological function, such as supporting healthy joints or the immune system. It bans claims for any medicinal purpose, including treating or preventing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, arthritis, asthma or eczema. It also says to avoid:

• "100% safe", "no side effects" or suggesting safety because it is "natural"
• "clinically proven" and similar wording, which HSA says implies treatment efficacy
• anti-ageing, hormone-balancing, blood-sugar and memory or IQ claims
• recommendations or testimonials from healthcare professionals

Genuine customer testimonials are allowed, but HSA says the seller must hold proof of identity and show that they reflect typical experience. All claims need substantiation that you can show to HSA on request. Supplements that contain only vitamins and minerals can be classed as quasi-medicinal products, and HSA says those need advertisement and sales promotion permits. This catches many everyday multivitamin listings, so check your classification before you promote them.

Traditional medicines and Chinese proprietary medicines

• Traditional medicines (TM) here means Malay and Indian traditional medicinal products. HSA says they don't need approval or licensing, but dealers must meet safety, quality and labelling standards, and must not claim to prevent, alleviate or cure 19 listed conditions (including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, infertility and sexual function). HSA also says a permit is needed before publishing medical advertisements or running sales promotions to the public.
• Chinese proprietary medicines (CPM) are different. HSA says you need product listing approval and a dealer's licence to import, wholesale, manufacture or assemble CPM for sale in Singapore, and the same advertising permit and 19-condition claims rules apply. HSA's CPM labels must include a prescribed "allowed for sale" statement.

Medical devices, prescription products and what you can't sell online

HSA says medical devices must be registered before supply in Singapore, except Class A low-risk devices, and anyone importing, manufacturing or supplying them needs a dealer's licence. Products meant for general well-being without medical claims, such as body toning equipment, magnetic accessories and massagers, are not medical devices. Things like blood pressure monitors and glucose monitors are, and HSA has removed listings for them.

HSA's enforcement notices to sellers say:

• Selling prescription medicines, adulterated health products, and unregistered or professional-use-only medical devices on local e-commerce platforms is illegal.
• Anyone supplying them can be imprisoned for up to 3 years and/or fined up to $100,000 if convicted.
• Contact lenses are medical devices, and it is illegal to sell them online.
• Dermal fillers and botulinum toxin need HSA's approval and should be given by qualified medical practitioners.

Treat anything for a medical condition as off-limits for your store unless you have checked HSA's rules first.

Setting up your Shopify store

• Product pages. Show the required label details as text or a clear label photo: ingredients, directions, warnings, batch and expiry, and the Singapore company's name and address. Use the claims allowed for the product's category, and keep your evidence on file.
• Check each product's category before you import a catalogue. A bulk import from an overseas supplier can include items that HSA treats as medicines or devices. Remove or hold them until you have checked.
• Payments. Shopify says Shopify Payments can't support regulated products such as prescription drugs and medical devices, or "pseudo pharmaceuticals", meaning products with health claims that aren't verified by a local or national regulator. Shopify points to a Singapore-specific list in its Payments terms. If you aren't eligible, you can use a third-party provider (see our PayNow and GrabPay guide), but check that provider's own prohibited list too.
• Advertising. Use the same compliant claims in ads, social posts and emails as on the product page, because HSA's rules cover labels, advertisements and promotional materials.
• Customer data. Orders for health products can reveal personal details, so follow our PDPA guide. See also our returns guide: opened cosmetics and supplements need a clear returns policy, and faulty goods are covered by Singapore's Lemon Law.

Shipping cosmetics and supplements

Check each courier's prohibited list for your product types. What we could verify:

• SingPost. Its dangerous goods page says aerosol sprays, perfume, nail polish and removers, hair and textile dyes and bleaches must not be shipped. Its Speedpost terms also let it refuse parcels with liquid content or that are flammable.
• Ninja Van. The Ninja Flexi terms list flammable, ignitable or volatile items and hazardous items as unacceptable. Check its terms for the service you actually use.
• Lalamove. Its terms bar dangerous or hazardous materials, and require delicate items to be packed properly.

Those pages don't spell out every cosmetic, so confirm your own products with the courier, such as aerosols, perfumes, nail products and anything with a battery. We didn't verify any courier's lithium battery rules here. Our Singapore shipping guide covers carrier setup.

Setup checklist

1. Classify every product with HSA's guides. Ask HSA about borderline items.
2. Register your business (ACRA) and decide who notifies cosmetics.
3. Get your cosmetic notifications, one per variant, and diarise the one-year renewal.
4. Check cosmetic ingredients against the ASEAN annexes and your labels against HSA's list.
5. Check supplement ingredients, labels and claims against HSA's guides, and drop disease claims.
6. Remove prescription medicines, contact lenses, registered-only devices and anything you can't lawfully sell.
7. Check Shopify Payments eligibility and your backup gateway.
8. Confirm courier acceptance for each product type, then test an order end to end.

Selling food or drink instead? See selling food online in Singapore with Shopify.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need HSA approval to sell cosmetics online in Singapore?

No approval is needed, but you usually need a cosmetic product notification. HSA says manufacturers and importers must notify products before supplying them in Singapore, one notification per variant, renewed every year. HSA doesn't evaluate the product, so you remain responsible for safe ingredients, correct English labels and compliant claims.

Who has to notify a cosmetic product with HSA?

The person in Singapore who is instrumental in causing the cosmetic product to be available for sale, usually the local importer or manufacturer. Each importer must notify, even if another company has notified the same product. You need an ACRA-registered local entity, Corppass and CRIS accounts, and submit through PRISM. Confirm your situation with HSA.

Do health supplements need to be registered with HSA?

No. HSA says health supplements don't need approval or licensing for import, manufacture or sale, and HSA doesn't evaluate them before they are sold. Sellers must make sure ingredients are safe and permitted, labels meet HSA's English labelling standards, and claims don't suggest treating or preventing disease. Claiming a product is HSA-approved is false.

What health claims can't I make for a supplement?

HSA says supplements must not be labelled, advertised or promoted for any medicinal purpose, including treating or preventing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer or arthritis. It also advises against claims such as 100% safe, no side effects or clinically proven, and against recommendations from healthcare professionals. All claims must be truthful and substantiated.

Can I sell prescription medicines, medical devices or contact lenses on Shopify?

Not without the proper authorisation. HSA says selling prescription medicines, adulterated health products, and unregistered or professional-use-only medical devices on e-commerce platforms is illegal, with penalties of up to 3 years' jail and/or a $100,000 fine. Contact lenses are medical devices and can't be sold online. Shopify Payments also doesn't support prescription drugs or medical devices.

Building a beauty or wellness store? A Shopify trial lets you set up product pages with full label details, check payments eligibility and place test orders before you launch.

Start a Shopify trial →

References

Rules, features and fees change, so check the live page before you act on anything here.

1. Regulatory overview of cosmetic products, Health Sciences Authority (last updated 7 Aug 2026). Accessed 11 October 2026.
2. Cosmetic product classification guide, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
3. Submit notification and re-notification, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
4. Cosmetic product notification, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
5. How cosmetic products are regulated by HSA, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
6. ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
7. Health Products (Cosmetic Products — ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations 2007, Singapore Statutes Online. Accessed 11 October 2026.
8. Regulatory overview of health supplements, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
9. Health supplement claims, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
10. Getting savvy with health supplements, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
11. Regulatory overview of traditional medicines, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
12. Regulatory overview of Chinese Proprietary Medicines, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
13. Regulatory overview of medical devices, Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
14. HSA Removes over 1,200 Online Listings of Illegal Health Products during Global Enforcement Operation (26 Jun 2025), Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
15. HSA Removes Over 4,600 Online Listings and Seized More Than 60,000 Units of Illegal Health Products (31 Oct 2023), Health Sciences Authority. Accessed 11 October 2026.
16. Shopify Payments eligibility, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 11 October 2026.
17. General Prohibition & Dangerous Goods, SingPost. Accessed 11 October 2026.
18. Speedpost Terms & Conditions, SingPost. Accessed 11 October 2026.
19. Ninja Flexi Terms & Conditions, Ninja Van Singapore. Accessed 11 October 2026.
20. Terms & Conditions, Lalamove Singapore. Accessed 11 October 2026.