FDA COMPLIANCE · MARKETPLACE DOCUMENTS
Quick answer
There is no FDA registration certificate for cosmetics, and FDA will not send you one. On September 9, 2026, FDA said it does not provide certificates, verification letters or emails for cosmetic facility registration or product listing, and it does not issue letters confirming you are exempt. If Amazon, TikTok Shop or another marketplace asks for one, send what actually exists: your registration and listing details, your own submission records, and supporting documents from your manufacturer. Never describe any of it as an FDA certificate.
Updated November 2026. Last reviewed: November 9, 2026. If you sell beauty or personal care products online, you have probably seen a marketplace request for “proof of FDA registration.” Some sellers have spent weeks chasing a document that does not exist, and some have bought “certificates” from sites that will happily sell one. FDA’s September 2026 notice was written to stop that. This guide explains what FDA said, what to send instead, and how to keep your listings clean. It is general information, not legal advice.
What FDA said on September 9, 2026
FDA’s Cosmetics Constituent Update says the agency does not provide certificates or other documents to verify compliance for cosmetic product facility registration. It names three things it does not provide:
- a certificate as proof of cosmetic facility registration or cosmetic product listing,
- a letter or email stating that a facility is registered or a product is listed, and
- a certificate, letter or email confirming that a facility or responsible person is not required to register or list.
FDA also said that facility registration and product listing are neither a cosmetic review program nor a promotional tool, and that a registration or listing number does not indicate FDA endorsement of the facility or its products. It added that it knows ecommerce platforms, such as TikTok Shop, may ask sellers for proof of registration, or for an FDA letter confirming an exemption.
In plain terms: registration and listing are filings. You submit information. FDA assigns numbers. Nobody at FDA reviews your product and nobody issues a document.
Who has to register and list
Under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, owners or operators of facilities that manufacture or process cosmetics are generally required to register those facilities and renew every two years. The responsible person for each marketed cosmetic product must list the product, including its ingredients, and update the listing annually. There are exemptions, and whether one applies to you depends on your facts. For a plain-language walk through the roles, see our answer on MoCRA, the U.S. Agent and the responsible person and our full FDA registration and U.S. Agent guide.
Why marketplaces keep asking for something that does not exist
Marketplaces want to protect shoppers and themselves. A request for “FDA documentation” is a simple screening step, and the people reviewing a listing may not know that no certificate exists. The result is a mismatch between what the review form asks for and what FDA actually provides. FDA’s notice acknowledges that gap directly.
That has two consequences for sellers. One, you should not hold up a launch waiting on FDA. Two, you should be careful about anyone offering a “certificate,” because a document that looks official but is not from FDA can create a bigger problem than a missing one.
What to send instead
What each marketplace accepts changes, and you should read the request in your own seller account. Here is the set of material that is real and that we would gather before you answer a request.
- Your own filing details. The facility registration number and product listing number that were assigned when you or your agent submitted, along with the date and the name of the facility and responsible person. Keep screenshots or exports of your submission confirmations.
- Who the responsible person is. Name and address as they appear on the label.
- Manufacturer records. Evidence of good manufacturing practice from the facility that makes the product, and a certificate of analysis for the batch, if the marketplace asks for them. These come from your manufacturer or a testing lab, not from FDA.
- Label and ingredient list. Matching the listing, the packaging and your product record.
- A statement from a registration agent or regulatory counsel. Some sellers send a short letter from the party that made the filing, confirming that a registration and listing were submitted. It has value as an independent record, but it is not an FDA document and should never be presented as one.
When you reply to the marketplace, say plainly what you are attaching and why. A short note such as “FDA does not issue certificates for cosmetic registration or listing; here are our registration and listing details and supporting records” is accurate and gives the reviewer something to check. If the reviewer still insists on an FDA letter, escalate through your seller support channel and cite FDA’s September 9 notice.
Wording to avoid in listings and ads
This is where sellers get into trouble. Registration is not a quality mark, and your listing should not suggest it is.
- Do not claim that FDA has backed a product because it has a registration or listing number.
- Do not display a registration or listing number as if it were a seal.
- Do not use the FDA name or logo in a way that implies endorsement.
- State only what is true: for example, that the product is made at a registered facility, if that is accurate and the marketplace allows it.
Claims are a separate risk
Paperwork is only half of marketplace compliance. The other half is what your listing says the product does. TikTok Shop updated its Product Listing Policy in early November 2026, and published summaries of the update point to the same themes: accurate and consistent product information, no unsupported health or disease-treatment claims, and no off-platform links or codes. Amazon has also faced public FDA scrutiny of products sold through its fulfillment network. In October 2026 FDA sent Amazon a warning letter about nine products marketed to treat sexually transmitted infections, which it classed as new drugs lacking the required application.
The lesson for brands is practical. A product’s claims decide what category it falls into. A cosmetic that promises to treat a medical condition can stop being treated as a cosmetic. Before you scale ads on a product, read the listing as a regulator would: every claim, every before-and-after image, every review you feature. Our TikTok Shop account health guide covers how listing violations can affect your shop, and our short answer on what FDA registration does and does not mean on Amazon covers the distinction.
How Eva Commerce (eva.guru) helps
Eva Commerce’s FDA compliance services cover U.S. Agent service, facility registration and MoCRA product listing support for brands selling on Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop and Shopify. We also review how marketplace documentation requests line up with your filings, so the answer you send is accurate. If your products are food or supplements, our answer on whether Amazon food sellers need FDA registration is a good place to start, and our Amazon management and TikTok Shop management teams handle the listings themselves.
Book a call or call 858-315-2020 for a documentation and listing review.
Frequently asked questions
Does FDA issue a cosmetic registration certificate?
No. FDA’s September 9, 2026 notice says it does not provide certificates or other documents verifying cosmetic facility registration or product listing.
Can FDA send a letter confirming my facility is exempt?
No. FDA says it does not provide a certificate, letter or email confirming that a facility or responsible person is not required to register or list.
What should I send TikTok Shop or Amazon instead?
Send your registration and listing details, your submission records, the responsible person’s information, and supporting documents from your manufacturer. Read the request in your seller account for exactly what that marketplace accepts.
Does a registration number mean FDA has reviewed my product?
No. FDA says registration and listing are neither a review program nor a promotional tool, and the numbers do not indicate FDA endorsement of a facility or product.
Can I tell shoppers that FDA has vouched for my product?
No. Registration and listing do not support that claim. State only what is accurate, such as the facility being registered, where the marketplace allows it.
How often do cosmetic facilities renew?
Facility registrations are generally renewed every two years, and the responsible person updates each product listing annually.
Sources: FDA, Cosmetics Constituent Update (September 9, 2026); FDA warning letter to Amazon.com, Inc. (October 1, 2026). General information, not legal advice.
