TikTok Shop Expands Compliance Framework for Beauty and Personal Care Products

TikTok Shop has released a comprehensive Beauty and Personal Care Products Policy, outlining the documentation, qualification, and regulatory requirements sellers must meet to list products in this category. The policy reflects TikTok Shop’s broader push toward stronger consumer protection, regulatory alignment, and platform trust—particularly for products applied to the skin, hair, or body.

The updated framework applies to manufacturers, importers, repackers, and resellers, with requirements varying based on the seller’s role and the nature of the product being listed.

What Qualifies as Beauty and Personal Care Products on the TikTok Shop 

TikTok Shop defines beauty and personal care products as items designed for cleansing, beautifying, and supporting hygiene and personal well-being. These products span all age groups, including babies, children, and adults.

Covered product types include, but are not limited to:

• Baby wipes, baby powder, and diaper creams
• Children’s toothpaste
• Body wash, shampoos, lotions, and creams
• Nail polish, mascara, lipstick, and foundation
• Hair dyes and perfumes
• Perfume decants, defined as repackaged portions of branded fragrances 

Some products in this category are also regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, meaning they provide both cosmetic and health-related benefits. Examples include:

• Body and facial sunscreen
• Deodorants
• Acne treatment gels 

These dual-use products are subject to additional labeling and documentation standards.

Category Qualification: A Mandatory Step for Many Sellers 

To sell beauty and personal care products, sellers may be required to complete a category qualification process through TikTok Shop’s Qualification Center. This process verifies that sellers meet regulatory and safety standards before their products are approved for sale.

TikTok Shop advises sellers to review the qualification process carefully and consult its category qualification guidance, particularly when handling rejections or resubmissions.

Documentation Requirements for Manufacturers, Importers, and Repackers 

Sellers who manufacture, import, or repack beauty and personal care products may be required to submit multiple forms of documentation.

FDA Registration Proof 

Eligible sellers must provide proof of active FDA registration, including:

• Establishment name matching the product label
• Physical address
• Operation type
• FDA registration number 

Acceptable proof includes:

• An FDA registration verification letter issued by a third party, clearly identifying the third party’s name and contact details
• A screenshot from the FDA registration portal showing that it originates from the FDA website 

Sellers qualifying for a MoCRA exemption, such as certain small businesses, must submit a self-attested document confirming their exemption eligibility.

Cosmetic Product Label Requirements 

Cosmetic labels must include: 

• Principal display panel
• Product name
• Net contents
• Ingredient list
• Manufacturer, importer, or distributor name and address
• Required warning statements 

Drug Facts Label (For OTC Products) 

If the product provides medical or health benefits, a Drug Facts label is required, including:

• Product name and net contents
• Drug Facts panel
• Active and inactive ingredients
• Directions for use
• Warning statements
• Expiration date (month–date–year or month–year format)
• Additional required information 

Requirements for Resellers 

Resellers are subject to a separate documentation pathway.

Purchase Invoice 

Resellers may need to submit a valid purchase invoice that:

• Includes the supplier’s company name and address
• Is issued within the past 365 days
• Matches the product category being listed
• It is written in English 

Product Labeling 

Resellers must also provide cosmetic labels and, where applicable, Drug Facts labels that meet the same standards required of manufacturers.

Prohibited Beauty and Personal Care Products 

TikTok Shop explicitly prohibits the sale of several types of beauty and personal care products, including:

• Products making medical claims without FDA verification
• Products improperly labeled as both cosmetics and drugs
• Skin-bleaching or melanin-reducing products
• Products not intended or approved for U.S. retail sale, including testers and non-compliant imports
• Products intended for professional medical use
• Baby products not approved by the FDA
• Cross-border products intended for children under three years old
• Products listed in FDA recalls or safety alerts
• Cosmetics containing FDA-restricted or prohibited ingredients 

Additional Regulatory and Legal Compliance Obligations 

Beyond TikTok Shop’s internal policies, sellers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, including:

• FDA cosmetic safety regulations
• The FTC Fair Packaging and Labeling Act
• Relevant state-level regulations 

A significant compliance focus is the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), which introduces new federal obligations for cosmetic products sold in the U.S.

Key MoCRA requirements include:

• Adverse event reporting requires responsible persons to report serious incidents to the FDA and maintain records
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance is mandatory for cosmetic manufacturing facilities by the end of 2025
• Facility registration and product listing with the FDA
• Safety substantiation, requiring evidence that products are safe for intended use 

Enforcement Actions and Seller Appeals 

TikTok Shop conducts regular compliance reviews. Violations may result in actions such as:

• Rejection of category qualification applications
• Account health point deductions
• Removal of product listings 

Sellers may appeal enforcement decisions through TikTok Shop’s official appeals process.

Submitting Documentation Through the Qualification Center 

Sellers must submit all required documents via the Qualification Center in Seller Center by:

• Logging into Seller Center
• Navigating to My Account > Account Settings
• Opening the Qualification Center
• Selecting Category Qualification
• Clicking Add Category Authorization and completing the submission steps 

How Sellers Can Address Qualification Rejections 

Most rejections occur due to missing or incomplete documentation. Sellers can review rejection reasons directly in Seller Center notifications or within the Qualification Center.

To reapply, sellers must:

• Review the rejection reason
• Recheck the relevant policy requirements
• Update or replace documentation
• Resubmit the application through the Qualification Center 

Source: https://seller-us.tiktok.com/university/essay?default_language=en&identity=1&content_id=2786070166210347&role=seller&from=new-and-updated&knowledge_id=1789325403522858&learning_id=1789325403522858