Product Information File (PIF) for Beauty Products
An inspection-ready Product Information File for each cosmetic you sell, built to Article 11 for UK and EU.
- Signed by a qualified safety assessor
- Regulator-ready, or we revise it free
- Delivered in 24, 48 or 72 hours
Trusted by brands including
Service details
Everything included, explained
Quick answer
A Product Information File (PIF) for cosmetics is the legal dossier the Responsible Person must hold for every cosmetic sold in the UK or EU, built around its safety report. We compile one PIF per product, each with its own formula, from £75, with 24-hour Priority delivery and a lower price per file on multi-product orders.
What's included in our PIF preparation service
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Product description | Name, product type, function and application site, so the file is clearly attributed to your product |
| Your CPSR, filed and cross-checked | The signed Annex I Parts A and B safety report, checked against the formula, label and PIF data |
| Manufacturing method and GMP statement | How the product is made, with your manufacturer's ISO 22716 Good Manufacturing Practice evidence |
| Claim and animal-testing records | Evidence for the effects you claim, plus the animal-testing data Article 11 requires |
| Label verification checklist | Responsible Person, INCI list, warnings, nominal content and batch code checked against Article 19 |
| Structured digital PIF | One PDF with organised folders, ready for your Responsible Person and for inspection |
Who a cosmetic PIF is for
- Brands launching one or more separate cosmetic products
- UK importers placing individual cosmetic items on the GB market
- Responsible Persons preparing an OPSS or EU inspection file
- Private-label and contract manufacturers supplying single products
- Sellers needing files for several different formulas in one order
10 products in one order vs ordering one at a time
| Bought separately | 10-product PIF order | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 separate PIFs (10 × £75) | £750 | ✓ |
| Total | £750 | £570 |
What a cosmetic PIF does not include
- Shades or scents of one base formula. Variants that share a base belong in one grouped file: our PIF for product variants costs less than a separate PIF for each shade.
- Perfumes and body mists. Fragrances need IFRA and allergen records and are covered by our fragrance PIF.
- Product notification. Registering the product before sale is a separate service: SCPN notification for Great Britain or CPNP notification for the EU.
- Acting as your Responsible Person. We prepare the file; holding it as your legal Responsible Person is our UK Responsible Person service.
- New laboratory tests. The PIF files the stability, microbiology and challenge-test reports you already hold; it does not include new lab testing.
How it works
- Fill our Product Information Document Send the full formula with INCI percentages, your CPSR, raw-material SDS, label artwork and any test reports you hold.
- We check the formula and safety report Ingredients are screened against Annexes II–VI and matched to the CPSR, so the file tells one consistent story.
- We compile your PIF The five Article 11 sections, label check, test reports and supplier documents are assembled into one structured file.
- Final regulatory review We audit the complete file and confirm the Responsible Person details and the address where the file is kept.
- You receive your PIF Delivered as a PDF with organised folders in 72, 48 or 24 hours, depending on the delivery speed you choose.
What is a Product Information File (PIF) for cosmetics?
A Product Information File (PIF) for cosmetics is the technical dossier that the Responsible Person must keep for every cosmetic product placed on the market. It is required by Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the EU and by the same article of the UK Cosmetics Regulation in Great Britain, and it must exist before the product goes on sale.
The PIF is the first document an enforcement officer asks to see: in Great Britain, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local Trading Standards; in the EU, the competent authority of the member state where the file is kept. This page prepares one cosmetic PIF for each product that has its own formula. Order several products together and the price per file falls.
Article 11 PIF requirements in the UK and EU
The five legal contents (Article 11(2)):
- Product description: enough detail to attribute the file clearly to the product.
- Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR): the Article 10 safety report, Annex I Parts A and B.
- Manufacturing method and GMP statement: how the product is made, with a statement of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice under Article 8.
- Proof of the effect claimed: where justified by the nature or effect of the product.
- Animal-testing data: any animal testing by the manufacturer, its agents or suppliers on the product or its ingredients, including testing for markets outside the UK and EU.
What we add so the file is inspection-ready:
- Label verification: Responsible Person name and address, INCI list, warnings, nominal content and batch code checked against Article 19.
- Test reports: your stability, microbiology, packaging compatibility and, where relevant, preservative challenge test (ISO 11930) reports, filed and indexed.
- Supplier documents: raw-material SDS filed so every ingredient can be traced.
Keeping your cosmetic technical file valid:
- Retention: keep the PIF for 10 years after the last batch of the product is placed on the market.
- Updates: revise the file whenever the formula, label, supplier or manufacturing site changes.
- Access in Great Britain: the file must be in English and readily accessible at the address notified through SCPN.
- Access in the EU: readily accessible at the Responsible Person's address on the label, in a language the competent authority can easily understand.
What we need from you
To prepare your PIF, send us:
- Your full formula with INCI names and percentages
- Your signed CPSR (if you do not have one yet, our single-product CPSR provides it)
- Raw-material SDS from your suppliers
- Label artwork for every pack size
- Any test reports you hold: stability, microbiology, challenge testing or packaging compatibility
- Evidence for the claims you make on pack or online
- Your manufacturer's details and GMP (ISO 22716) evidence
Legal framework
- Article 11, Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 — the Responsible Person keeps a PIF for every cosmetic for 10 years after the last batch is placed on the market
- UK Cosmetics Regulation — Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as it applies in Great Britain, amended by Schedule 34 to SI 2019/696; the GB PIF must be in English
- Article 10 and Annex I — the safety assessment and CPSR that sit inside the PIF
- Article 8 and ISO 22716 — manufacture must follow Good Manufacturing Practice; conformity with the harmonised standard (EN ISO 22716) is presumed to meet it
- Article 13 — pre-market notification (SCPN in Great Britain, CPNP in the EU), which records the address where the PIF is kept
- Article 18 — the ban on animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 655/2013 — common criteria for justifying cosmetic claims
Official sources:
- Article 11, Product Information File — GB text (legislation.gov.uk)
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (EUR-Lex)
- Regulation (EU) No 655/2013 on cosmetic claims (legislation.gov.uk)
- Cosmetics regulation guidance for Great Britain (GOV.UK)
Why brands choose Phoenix for their cosmetic PIF
- All five Article 11 sections — plus label, test and supplier records, in one structured file.
- One consistent story — the formula, CPSR, label and test data are cross-checked before the file is signed off.
- Lower price per file on bigger orders — 10 products cost £570 at Standard delivery instead of £750 ordered one at a time.
- Regulator-ready or we revise it free — our compliance guarantee.
- Trusted by 1,400+ brands over 14 years, including The Beard Struggle, The Essence Vault, Parfum Fabric and Junaid Jamshed.
- Fast delivery options — Standard Delivery (72 Hours), Fast Delivery (48 Hours) or Priority Delivery (24 Hours).
Make your product inspection-ready with a cosmetic PIF today. Choose the number of products and your delivery speed above, or message us on WhatsApp on +44 7346 009332 if you are unsure whether you need this PIF, the variants PIF or the fragrance PIF.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Product Information File (PIF) for cosmetics?
A PIF is the technical dossier the Responsible Person must keep for every cosmetic under Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its GB equivalent. It holds the product description, CPSR, manufacturing and GMP details, claim evidence and animal-testing data.
Do I need a PIF to sell cosmetics in the UK or EU?
Yes. Every cosmetic placed on the GB or EU market needs a PIF before it goes on sale, whatever the batch size or sales channel. Enforcement authorities can ask to see it at any time.
How long must a cosmetic PIF be kept?
For 10 years after the last batch of the product is placed on the market. In Great Britain it must be in English and kept at the address notified through SCPN.
Is the CPSR part of the PIF?
Yes. The CPSR is a legally required section of every PIF. We file and cross-check your signed CPSR; if you do not have one yet, our single-product CPSR service provides it.
How much does a cosmetic PIF cost?
From £75 for one product at Standard (72 Hours) delivery. Multi-product orders cost less per file: 10 products cost £570 at Standard, £820 at Fast or £1,070 at Priority.
How long does it take to prepare a PIF?
72 hours on Standard, 48 hours on Fast or 24 hours on Priority delivery, counted from when we receive your complete documents.
Can one PIF cover several shades of the same product?
Not on this page, which gives each product its own PIF. Shades or scents built on one base formula belong in our PIF for product variants, which costs less than separate files.
What do you need from me to prepare a PIF?
Your full formula with INCI percentages, your CPSR, raw-material SDS, label artwork, claim evidence and any test reports you hold, such as stability, microbiology or challenge testing.