The California Safe Cosmetics Act (CSCA) is a California state law that requires cosmetic manufacturers, packers, and distributors to report cosmetic products containing ingredients known or suspected to cause cancer, developmental toxicity, or reproductive harm to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The law is designed to increase transparency about potentially hazardous cosmetic ingredients sold in California.

CSCAR (California Safe Cosmetics Act Reporting) is the mandatory reporting process under the California Safe Cosmetics Act. Companies must submit their cosmetic product and ingredient information to the California Safe Cosmetics Program (CSCP) — a program administered by the California Department of Public Health — when their products contain reportable ingredients. CSCAR is a California state requirement separate from FDA and MoCRA federal obligations.

CSCAR applies to cosmetic manufacturers, packers, and distributors whose products are sold in California — including online sales to California consumers — and whose products contain ingredients on California's list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm. This applies regardless of where the company or manufacturer is located. Both domestic and foreign companies selling in California must comply.

CSCAR reporting is required when a cosmetic product contains an ingredient listed as a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity — as identified under Proposition 65 and other California chemical lists. If the ingredient is present at any detectable level above applicable threshold concentrations, a CSCAR report is required for that product.

Yes. CSCAR applies to any cosmetic product sold to consumers in California — including online sales made through e-commerce platforms, brand websites, and marketplaces. If your products are available to California consumers and contain reportable ingredients, CSCAR reporting obligations apply regardless of whether you have a physical presence in California.

No. CSCAR is a California state requirement administered by the California Department of Public Health, entirely separate from federal FDA obligations under MoCRA. MoCRA requires facility registration and product listing with the FDA. CSCAR requires reporting of specific cosmetic products and ingredients to the California Safe Cosmetics Program. Companies selling cosmetics in California may need to comply with both.

A CSCAR submission typically requires: company and responsible party information, cosmetic product name and description, product category and intended use, a complete ingredient list including reportable substances, concentration ranges for reportable ingredients, and product labeling details. All submissions must be accurate, complete, and filed within required timelines established by the California Safe Cosmetics Program.

Failure to comply with CSCAR requirements can result in regulatory enforcement action by California authorities, civil penalties, and increased legal and compliance risk. Non-compliance can also lead to retailer delisting — with major California retailers increasingly requiring suppliers to demonstrate CSCAR compliance. Proper and timely CSCAR reporting is essential for continued access to the California cosmetics market.

Yes. CSCAR reporting requirements apply to any company — domestic or foreign — whose cosmetic products are sold in California and contain reportable ingredients. Foreign manufacturers and distributors exporting cosmetics to the U.S. that reach California consumers must evaluate their products for CSCAR compliance and submit reports as required, regardless of where the manufacturing occurs.

CSCAR reports must be updated when a product formulation changes in a way that affects reportable ingredient information — including changes to reportable ingredient identities or concentrations. Companies must also submit new CSCAR reports for new products that contain reportable ingredients. FDA Registration Assistance provides ongoing compliance support to manage updates as your product lines evolve.

Yes. FDA Registration Assistance provides complete CSCAR compliance services — evaluating your products for reporting requirements, reviewing ingredient lists against California chemical lists, preparing accurate CSCAR submissions, and filing directly with the California Department of Public Health on your behalf. We handle the full CSCAR process so you can focus on your business.

California's Proposition 65 (the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) requires businesses to provide warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive harm. The Proposition 65 list is one of the key reference lists used to determine which cosmetic ingredients trigger CSCAR reporting obligations. If a cosmetic product contains a Proposition 65 chemical, a CSCAR report is likely required.

The California Safe Cosmetics Act applies to companies with annual sales of cosmetic products of $1 million or more. Companies below this threshold may be exempt from CSCAR reporting requirements. However, the threshold applies to total cosmetic product sales and companies approaching or exceeding this level should evaluate their CSCAR obligations. FDA Registration Assistance can help determine whether your company meets the reporting threshold.

CSCAR and MoCRA product listing are separate compliance requirements. MoCRA product listing requires submission of cosmetic product information to the FDA using Form FDA 5067. CSCAR requires reporting of products with specific hazardous ingredients to the California Department of Public Health. Both may apply to the same product, but they are different submissions to different agencies with different content requirements.

The timeline for CSCAR preparation and submission depends on the number of products being reported and the completeness of the ingredient information provided. FDA Registration Assistance works efficiently to prepare accurate submissions — typically completing standard CSCAR reports within a few business days of receiving complete product and ingredient information from your company.

To begin your CSCAR filing, you will need to provide your company name and contact information, a list of cosmetic products sold in California, complete ingredient lists with INCI names and concentrations for each product, and any existing product registration or listing information. FDA Registration Assistance will guide you through the entire process and identify which products and ingredients require CSCAR submissions.