Sell Cosmetics in Malta: Compliance Guide for the Maltese Market

• MCCAA (Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority) is the competent authority for cosmetics in Malta under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.
• Labels may be in Maltese or English — English-only labelling is fully compliant.
• Cosmetic Products Regulations SL 427.58 and Legal Notice 323/2011 form the national regulatory framework.

1. The EU framework applies — notify once, sell everywhere

Malta applies Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 directly — the harmonised rules that govern cosmetic products across the entire European Union. There is no parallel national regime: the safety, composition, and labelling rules are the same as in the rest of the EU.

In practice, selling in Malta within the EU framework means meeting four common obligations that are not specific to this country:

• A single CPNP notification covers the entire EU market, including Malta.
• A single EU-established Responsible Person is accountable for the product.
• A single product information file (PIF), which includes the cosmetic product safety report (CPSR).

This guide does not repeat that common framework — it focuses on what is specific to Malta. For the cross-cutting concepts, see also what the CosIng database is and how to use it.

2. The national competent authority

The competent authority for cosmetics in Malta is the MCCAA — Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority. MCCAA was established by an Act of the Maltese Parliament in 2011 and has competence over product safety, consumer rights, and market surveillance.

The Technical Regulations Division within MCCAA is the internal unit responsible for cosmetics, under the Cosmetic Products Regulations SL 427.58 (subsidiary legislation to the Product Safety Act, Cap. 427).

The official website with the cosmetics section is: mccaa.org.mt/en/cosmetics. For enquiries: rad@mccaa.org.mt.

3. Labelling language requirements

Malta accepts Maltese or English for all mandatory label elements under Article 19(5) of Regulation 1223/2009. Under Legal Notice 323 of 2011, mandatory label information must appear in Maltese and/or English. Since English is an official language of Malta, a label written exclusively in English is fully compliant.

INCI ingredient names are exempt from the language requirement: as internationally standardised nomenclature, they may appear in their original form without translation.

In commercial practice, English is the dominant language for cosmetics labelling in Malta. Maltese on labels is less common, though equally valid. This characteristic makes Malta a particularly accessible market for companies with English-language labelling already prepared for other markets such as Ireland or Cyprus.

Key distinction from Greece: The Greek market requires Greek to be present on labels — English-only does not comply. In Malta, English-only is fully valid. See our guide to selling cosmetics in Greece for the contrast across the Mediterranean region.

4. National particularities

SL 427.58 and Legal Notice 323/2011

Cosmetic Products Regulations SL 427.58 is the Maltese national instrument that incorporates Regulation 1223/2009 into Maltese law. Legal Notice 323 of 2011 establishes the specific labelling requirements, including the Maltese/English language provision.

English-language market

Malta is a de facto English-first market for cosmetics. Technical documentation, distribution channels, and communication with MCCAA are all typically handled in English, significantly reducing adaptation costs for companies from English-speaking markets or with English-centric operations. The product information file (PIF) and cosmetic product safety report (CPSR) are also routinely prepared in English, which MCCAA accepts for technical documentation purposes.

Tourism-driven retail channel

Malta has a significant cosmetics distribution channel through tourism: harbour shops, hotels, and retail areas oriented towards international visitors represent a relevant part of retail sales. This channel may be of interest to brands seeking an initial presence in the Maltese market with smaller volumes. Because English is the dominant language in tourism-facing retail, the English-labelling advantage has particular practical value in this segment.

English-language advantage in practice

For international brands already distributing in Ireland or other English-accepting EU markets, entering the Maltese market requires no additional labelling investment. The same English-language labels used for those markets are fully compliant in Malta. This is a meaningful cost saving compared to markets such as Greece, which requires dedicated Greek-language labelling, or the Central European markets where national language obligations require separate label runs for each country.

Cosmetovigilance

Serious undesirable effect notifications under Article 23 of Regulation 1223/2009 are directed to MCCAA, which acts as the national contact point in the European cosmetovigilance network. Economic operators must notify MCCAA as soon as a serious undesirable effect attributable to a cosmetic product comes to their attention, and must retain records of all such notifications as part of their ongoing compliance documentation. MCCAA can be contacted at rad@mccaa.org.mt or by telephone at +356 23952000 (address: National Road, Blata l-Bajda HMR 9010, Malta). For companies with established cosmetovigilance procedures for other EU markets, adapting those procedures for Malta is straightforward — the same reporting obligations under Article 23 apply, with MCCAA replacing the competent authority named in notifications for other member states.

For ingredient composition management and verification against the Regulation 1223/2009 annexes, consult the CosIng database.

For other markets in the Mediterranean region, see our guides to Greece and Cyprus.

5. Frequently asked questions

Which authority regulates cosmetics in Malta? The MCCAA (Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority) is the competent authority for cosmetics in Malta under the Cosmetic Products Regulations SL 427.58.

What language must cosmetic labels be in for Malta? Maltese or English — both are official languages of Malta. English-only labelling is fully compliant under Legal Notice 323 of 2011, which is a practical advantage over most continental EU markets.

Do I need a separate notification for Malta? No: a single CPNP notification covers the entire EU market, including Malta. There is no additional national registration for placing cosmetics on the market.

Are there national particularities beyond Regulation 1223/2009? The main particularities are SL 427.58 as the national reference regulation and Legal Notice 323 of 2011 establishing labelling requirements. The acceptance of English-only labelling is the most practically relevant advantage. Malta also has a significant tourism-driven retail distribution channel.