How Cosmetic Products Are Regulated in Georgia
Georgia has no separate statute for cosmetic products: their placing on the market is governed by the general regime of the Product Safety and Free Circulation Code. This means that a cosmetic product, like any other consumer product, is subject to the same core requirements — safety, consumer information, labelling in Georgian, and producer liability for damage caused by a defective product. This page describes that regime on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Code; every conclusion comes directly from the text of the law.
For importers, producers and distributors of cosmetics this construction matters greatly: in the absence of a specific technical regulation, it is precisely the Code's general norms that define what is permitted and what triggers fines. Should a specific technical regulation for cosmetics be adopted in the future, its requirements would supersede the general regime in the prescribed manner.
The Code establishes an open-market mechanism: a product belonging to the regulated sphere that is manufactured in a country with adequate product-safety standards and developed quality infrastructure is placed on the market without restriction, in accordance with that country's legislation. The list of such countries is determined by the Government of Georgia. In practice, cosmetic products imported from recognized markets do not require additional testing — provided the country of origin is on the list.
Where a technical regulation does not set specific safety requirements for a product, the requirements established by Chapters II and III of the Code apply — it is this clause that brings cosmetic products under the general safety regime. Another important rule: a product whose safety characteristics are substantially modified is considered a new product and must comply with the technical regulation when placed on the market or put into use.
Producer Duties in Ensuring Safety
The producer is obliged to place only safe products on the market. Within its competence it must warn consumers of any visible or invisible risk the product contains during its intended use and over its predetermined period — including risks that may not become apparent immediately. If the risk cannot be avoided, the producer must take every measure to eliminate it: analyse the risk, take appropriate action, warn consumers and, where necessary, recall the product from consumers and from the market.
A producer must not distribute a product which, on the basis of information and knowledge available to it, does not comply with mandatory safety requirements. A distributor, within the scope of its activity, must support the safety of products placed on the market, and producers and distributors must cooperate with the competent authorities. If they know — or on the basis of the information and professional knowledge at their disposal should know — that a product they placed on the market carries a risk non-compliant with established safety requirements, they must immediately inform the competent authority and provide data identifying the product or its batch, complete information on the risks, information enabling traceability, and a description of the measures needed to avert the risk.