Cosmetics guide · Sources checked October 2026
CPSR vs PIF: what’s the difference?
CPSR vs PIF: the cosmetic product safety report (CPSR) is one document inside the product information file (PIF). The CPSR shows the product is safe, with safety information in Part A and a signed safety assessment in Part B; the PIF is the wider file the Responsible Person keeps for each product, holding the CPSR alongside the product description, manufacturing and GMP information, claim evidence and animal testing data.
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CPSR vs PIF at a glance
The difference between a CPSR and a PIF
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| Point of difference | CPSR (safety report) | PIF (product information file) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | The report from the safety assessment, set up in line with Annex I: Part A safety information and Part B safety assessment | The file the Responsible Person keeps for each cosmetic product placed on the market, with five required items | Articles 10 and 11, GB text; EU text, checked October 2026 |
| Who prepares or signs it | Part A is provided by the Responsible Person; Part B is carried out and signed by a qualified safety assessor, with their name, proof of qualification, date and signature | The Responsible Person keeps it. The regulation does not say who must compile it in practice | Annex I, GB text; GOV.UK guidance, checked October 2026 |
| Where it sits | Inside the PIF, as item (b) of Article 11(2) | In GB, at the address notified under Article 13; in the EU, at the Responsible Person’s address on the label. Electronic or other format | Article 11, GB text; EU text, checked October 2026 |
| When it is updated | Kept up to date in view of additional relevant information generated after the product is placed on the market | Updated as necessary, and kept for ten years after the last batch is placed on the market | Article 10(1)(c) and Article 11, GB text; EU text, checked October 2026 |
| Qualification needed | Part B: a diploma or equivalent from a university course in pharmacy, toxicology, medicine or a similar discipline. In GB an equivalent course is one recognised by the Secretary of State; in the EU, by a Member State | None set for keeping the file | Article 10(2), GB text; EU text, checked October 2026 |
Sources checked October 2026. Legislation and guidance change: open the linked source before relying on any row. This page is general information, not legal or regulatory advice; take advice from a qualified safety assessor or regulatory adviser for your products.
CPSR requirements cosmetics
What a cosmetic product safety report must contain
Annex I sets the minimum contents of the cosmetic product safety report. The section headings are the same in the GB and EU texts.
Sources: Annex I in the GB text and the EU text, checked October 2026. For the four other PIF items, see the cosmetic PIF requirements checklist.
- Part A, sections 1–4: composition; physical and chemical characteristics and stability; microbiological quality; impurities, traces and packaging material.
- Part A, sections 5–8: normal and reasonably foreseeable use; exposure to the product; exposure to the substances; toxicological profile of the substances.
- Part A, sections 9–10: undesirable effects and serious undesirable effects; other information on the product.
- Part B: assessment conclusion; labelled warnings and instructions of use; reasoning; the assessor’s credentials and approval of Part B.
Cosmetic product safety report requirements in practice
Common points of confusion
Plain-language notes, not legal advice.
- A CPSR on its own is not a PIF. The file also needs the product description, manufacturing and GMP information, claim evidence where justified, and animal testing data.
- The safety assessor signs Part B of the CPSR. The regulation does not ask the assessor to sign the PIF as a whole.
- Updating one can mean updating the other: a new safety report replaces item (b) in the file.
- Both are kept for the PIF’s retention period. Read how long to keep a cosmetic PIF and when to update it.
PIF tracking is not available yet
Soteriaa is building PIF tracking; join the waitlist. It is not available yet, and it will not prepare or sign a safety report. Join the cosmetics PIF waitlist to hear when it opens.
FAQ
Common questions
Is a CPSR the same as a PIF?
No. The CPSR is the safety report; the PIF is the wider product file, and the CPSR is one of the five items it must contain.
Who signs the CPSR?
A safety assessor with the qualifications set out in Article 10(2) carries out and signs Part B, the safety assessment. Part A, the safety information, is provided by the Responsible Person.
Do GB and EU require different CPSRs?
The Annex I contents are the same in the GB and EU texts. What differs is mainly where the file is kept, its language, the Responsible Person’s location and where the product is notified. Ask your safety assessor whether one report can serve both markets for your product.
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