Hong Kong Cosmetics Labelling Requirements Explained

Hong Kong cosmetics labelling requirements are lighter than most buyers expect. The law does not require a full Chinese label. What it requires is that any warning or caution about safe keeping, use, consumption or disposal appears in both English and Chinese (Consumer Goods Safety Regulation, Cap. 456A, section 2)¹.

A Korean product can be sold with its Korean label, but a caution such as “avoid contact with eyes” needs English and Chinese versions too.

Work through the steps below before Korean cosmetics are shipped to Hong Kong. Each point was checked against the legislation and the Customs and Excise Department FAQ.

Step 1: Confirm the product is covered by the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance

Section 2 of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (Cap. 456)² defines consumer goods as goods ordinarily supplied for private use or consumption, including their packaging. The Schedule excludes items such as food, pharmaceutical products, poisons and antibiotics, and traditional Chinese medicines.

Ordinary skincare and make-up therefore fall under the Ordinance. Section 3 says it does not apply to goods in transit, transhipment cargo or goods manufactured for export, so stock that only passes through Hong Kong to a third market is assessed differently.

Step 2: List every warning and caution on the pack

The rule covers warnings or cautions on the goods or package, on a label affixed to the package, or in a document enclosed in it. On cosmetics these are typically:

• what to do if the product gets into the eyes, or not to use on broken skin
• keep out of reach of children
• store away from direct sunlight; stop using if irritation occurs
• flammability warnings on aerosols

Ingredient lists, directions for use and product descriptions are not warnings, so the bilingual rule does not apply to them.

Step 3: Provide both English and Chinese versions

The Customs FAQ separates three situations:

The Regulation simply says “Chinese”; Traditional Chinese characters read most naturally for Hong Kong consumers. The translation must carry the same meaning as the original warning.

Step 4: Check position and legibility

Section 2 of Cap. 456A requires bilingual warnings to be legible and placed in a conspicuous position: on the goods, on the package, on a label securely affixed to the package, or in a document enclosed in the package. In practice most importers apply an English and Chinese sticker next to the Korean label. The sticker should stay on and must not cover the batch number or expiry information.

Step 5: Keep every other statement accurate

Origin, ingredients, volume and product claims carry no language rule, but they are trade descriptions under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362)³.

Section 2 covers composition, performance, place and date of manufacture and the manufacturer, and section 7 prohibits supplying goods that carry a false trade description. When you add a translated sticker, do not add claims that are not on the original label.

Step 6: Know the penalties and keep records

Under Cap. 456A, a first conviction can lead to a fine at level 6 and one year’s imprisonment, and a subsequent conviction to an HKD 500,000 fine and two years. In July 2026, for example, Customs reported a collagen cream whose warnings and cautions were only in English and Korean, with no Chinese, as a suspected breach of Cap. 456A⁴. Customs can also serve notices to warn, prohibition notices and recall notices under sections 7 to 9 of Cap. 456. Photos of the labels before and after stickering and your supplier documents make enquiries easier to answer.

Sources

• Consumer Goods Safety Regulation, Cap. 456A: https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap456A!en
• Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, Cap. 456: https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap456!en
• Trade Descriptions Ordinance, Cap. 362: https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap362!en
• Hong Kong Customs, consumer protection FAQs: https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/consumer-protection/faqs/index.html
• Hong Kong Customs, goods safety: https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/consumer-protection/goods-safety/index.html

Related reading: How to import cosmetics into Hong Kong · Hong Kong vs China cosmetics rules · Cosmetics claims in Hong Kong

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Notes

1. Hong Kong Department of Justice, Consumer Goods Safety Regulation (Cap. 456A), verified 2026-10-25. ↩

2. Hong Kong Department of Justice, Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (Cap. 456), verified 2026-10-25. ↩

3. Hong Kong Department of Justice, Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362), verified 2026-10-25. ↩

4. Hong Kong Government press release, Hong Kong Customs alerts public to one model of unsafe collagen cream (with photos), verified 2026-10-25. ↩