Trade insights
Wholesale Guide · Compliance
Notes on sourcing, assortment and margin for European retailers stocking K-beauty.
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How to Read Korean Batch Codes and Expiry Dates
Most Korean cosmetics list a manufacturing date rather than an expiry date, so buyers must decode it correctly before restocking a European shelf.
Read more →What Documents to Ask a Supplier For Before You Stock
Ask a Korean cosmetics supplier for six documents before a purchase order, but only the pack photo and the invoice actually prove anything.
Read more →How to Check a Product Is Already CPNP Notified Before You Buy
No public register confirms a CPNP notification, so check the EU responsible person printed on the pack, VIES and Safety Gate before paying a deposit.
Read more →Spotting Grey-Market and Counterfeit K-Beauty Before You Order
Most grey-market K-beauty is genuine but was never sold in the EEA, so a back-of-pack photo, the GTIN and a clean invoice tell you more than a cert...
Read more →Who Is the Responsible Person? EU Cosmetics Rules for Retailers
Whoever imports a cosmetic into the EU is its Responsible Person under Article 4(5) of Regulation 1223/2009, and a supplier cannot sign that role a...
Read more →Korean Sunscreens in the EU: UV Filters, SPF Claims and What You Can Actually Sell
Korean sunscreens sell on filters and feel, but in the EU only Annex VI filters count, SPF claims follow EU testing, and the PA rating is not an EU...
Read more →Whitening, Anti-Wrinkle, Dermatologist-Tested: Which Korean Claims Survive in the EU
Whitening, anti-wrinkle, dermatologist-tested. Korean marketing claims meet the EU common criteria. What survives translation and what gets listing...
Read more →CPNP for Korean Cosmetics: What Changes When the Pack Is Already Korean-Labelled
Korean cosmetics need a CPNP notification by the EU responsible person for your exact units; a filing by the brand or another importer does not cov...
Read more →How to Vet a K-Beauty Wholesale Supplier in Europe: 10 Checks
Ten checks that tell a real K-beauty wholesaler in Europe from a reseller with a website: VIES, stock location, RP on the pack, expiry terms, paid ...
Read more →Ingredients Allowed in Korea but Restricted in the EU: What to Check Before Importing
Korea and the EU ban and restrict different substances. Screen every INCI list before importing, because legal in Seoul can mean illegal in Linz.
Read more →EU Labelling for Korean Cosmetics: What Must Be on the Pack and Who Adds It
Seven label elements decide whether a Korean pack may be sold in the EU, and four of them must be in the buyer's language. Who adds them, and at wh...
Read more →80 Fragrance Allergens: The 2026 Labelling Change and What It Means for Existing Stock
The EU fragrance allergen list grows from 26 to over 80. New products from July 2026, old stock until July 2028. What changes on a Korean import's ...
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