--- title: My Product Looks Like a General Good, Does It Still Need a PIF? Taiwan's Cosmetic Scope author: Pharmacist Hsiao-Chen lang: en canonical: https://www.pharmachen.com/pif/en/importer/is-my-product-a-cosmetic/ published: 2026-08-25 --- # My Product Looks Like a General Good, Does It Still Need a PIF? Taiwan's Cosmetic Scope **Bottom lineļ¼š** Taiwan classifies cosmetics by "use," not "appearance." Any product applied to skin, hair, nails, lips, teeth, or oral mucosa for cleansing, care, beautifying, altering appearance, or correcting body odor, including hand wash, lip balm, shampoo, and body lotion, generally requires a PIF. ## The law looks at use, not looks Cosmetic classification depends on the body part a product contacts and its claimed function, not whether it looks like a cosmetic on the shelf. Hand wash, lip balm, body lotion, and shampoo may look like everyday goods, but if their use falls under cleansing, care, beautifying, altering appearance, or correcting body odor, they are within the cosmetic scope. ## Your phase determines your urgency Taiwan's PIF system has three phases: July 2024 for sunscreen, hair dye, perms, antiperspirants, and home teeth whitening; July 2025 for baby, lip, eye products, non-medicated toothpaste, and mouthwash; July 1, 2026 for all general cosmetics. If you're in the first two phases, you are overdue and selling illegally. If in the third, the July 1 deadline has also passed. ## The greatest danger is assuming you're exempt Those who get caught are the ones who never thought their product was regulated. Only when told they can't sell do they realize that hand wash or lip balm should have been filed long ago. ## FAQ ### Do hand wash and shampoo count as cosmetics? Yes. Taiwan classifies cosmetics by use. Products applied to skin, hair, and similar parts for cleansing, care, or beautifying are generally cosmetics and require a PIF. ### How do I tell if my product is a cosmetic? Look at the body part contacted and the claimed function, not appearance. If applied to skin, hair, nails, lips, teeth, or oral mucosa for cleansing, care, beautifying, altering appearance, or correcting body odor, it is a cosmetic. ### Which phase does my product fall into? Specific-use items like sunscreen and hair dye are July 2024; baby, lip, and eye products are July 2025; other general cosmetics are July 2026. The first two phases are already overdue if not done. ### Do solid handmade soaps need a PIF? In the third phase bringing all general cosmetics into scope, solid handmade soap is among the exceptions. Actual classification should be confirmed per product against current TFDA rules. --- https://www.pharmachen.com/pif/en/importer/is-my-product-a-cosmetic/