Sell Cosmetics in Hungary: Regulatory Compliance Guide

• The NNGYK (Nemzeti Népegészségügyi és Gyógyszerészeti Központ) is the competent authority for cosmetics under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 since August 2023.
• Hungarian is mandatory for elements b), c), d), and f) of Art. 19(1) per Government Decree 246/2013 (VII.2.); a supplementary Hungarian label is acceptable.
• Government Decree 93/2025 introduced a temporary 15% retail margin cap for large drugstores, with a stated end date of 31 August 2025.

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

Hungary 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 Hungary 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 Hungary.
• 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 Hungary. 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 cosmetic products in Hungary is the Nemzeti Népegészségügyi és Gyógyszerészeti Központ (NNGYK) — National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy, accessible at nngyk.gov.hu.

The NNGYK was established on 1 August 2023 through the merger of the Nemzeti Népegészségügyi Központ (NNK) and the Országos Gyógyszerészeti és Élelmezés-egészségügyi Intézet (OGYÉI). Since that date, the NNGYK is the institutional reference for all cosmetics matters in Hungary. County and district public health authorities conduct territorial market surveillance across the country.

The NNGYK reviews the product information file (PIF) held in Hungary and initiates ex-officio administrative procedures when it identifies non-compliance. For ingredient composition queries and applicable restrictions, the CosIng database is the reference resource.

3. Labelling language requirements

Hungarian is mandatory in Hungary for the elements specified in Article 19(1) of Regulation 1223/2009. Government Decree 246/2013 (VII.2.) on cosmetics, in §1, specifies that points b) (nominal content), c) (minimum durability date), d) (precautions for use), and f) (product function) must appear in Hungarian.

For products that are not pre-packaged or are packaged at the point of purchase, points a), c), d), f), and g) must appear on the packaging in indelible, legible, and visible lettering.

A supplementary Hungarian label (in Hungarian: «magyar nyelvű pótcímke»), applied over the original label, is acceptable for imported products, provided it covers all mandatory elements in Hungarian.

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

4. National particularities

Government Decree 246/2013 (VII.2.)

Hungarian Government Decree 246/2013 implements the labelling requirements of Regulation 1223/2009 at national level and specifies precisely which label elements must be in Hungarian. It is the primary national reference for market inspections conducted by NNGYK and territorial authorities.

PIF review

If the product information file is held in Hungary, NNGYK may review its compliance as part of its market surveillance function. A non-compliant file can trigger an ex-officio administrative procedure. This underscores the importance of maintaining a complete and up-to-date PIF, in line with product information file requirements.

The PIF must be accessible at the address of the EU-established Responsible Person for the duration specified by the Regulation. While there is no requirement for the PIF to be held on Hungarian territory specifically, any Responsible Person or distributor choosing to store the PIF in Hungary accepts NNGYK oversight of that documentation. In practice, the NNGYK may request the PIF as part of a market surveillance action; the Responsible Person must be in a position to make it available without delay.

Temporary market-access condition: Decree 93/2025

Government Decree 93/2025 (dated 8 May 2025) introduced a 15% retail margin cap on cosmetics and household products sold by drugstores with NACE/TEÁOR activity code 47.75 and revenues above HUF 1 billion in 2023. The measure took effect on 19 May 2025, with a stated end date of 31 August 2025.

This measure is a temporary market-access condition introduced by the Hungarian Government; it is not part of the compliance requirements under Regulation 1223/2009. The status of this measure after 31 August 2025 was unverified at the time this guide was published; verify current regulations before making any commercial decisions.

For other markets in the region, see our guides to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia.

5. Frequently asked questions

Which authority regulates cosmetics in Hungary? The NNGYK (Nemzeti Népegészségügyi és Gyógyszerészeti Központ — National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy) is the competent authority for cosmetics since August 2023, when NNK and OGYÉI merged. County and district public health authorities carry out territorial market surveillance.

What language must cosmetic labels be in for Hungary? Hungarian is mandatory for the elements specified in §1 of Government Decree 246/2013: nominal content, minimum durability date, precautions, and product function. A supplementary Hungarian label applied over the original is acceptable for imported products.

Do I need a separate notification for Hungary? No. A single CPNP notification covers the entire EU market, including Hungary. If the product information file (PIF) is held in Hungary, NNGYK may initiate an ex-officio administrative procedure if it finds the file non-compliant.

Are there national particularities beyond Regulation 1223/2009? Government Decree 246/2013 (VII.2.) sets the labelling language requirements. Additionally, Decree 93/2025 introduced a temporary 15% retail margin cap for large drugstores, with a stated end date of 31 August 2025.