Glossary
France ↔ UAE.
The words that come up when a perfume or beauty brand moves from one market to the other, defined simply, with sources for the regulatory terms. Guidance only, to be checked with a specialist before any decision.
Selling inthe UAE.
Montaji (product registration in Dubai)
Dubai Municipality’s platform for registering products, including cosmetics and perfumes, before they are sold in Dubai. The municipality evaluates, registers, releases and monitors products on the market. The filing is made by a licensed local entity, usually the importer or the distributor.
Source: Dubai Municipality, role in cosmetics registration and Montaji+ (27/10/2025)
ECAS
The UAE conformity scheme run by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT): it registers certain regulated products and issues a certificate confirming that they meet the approved specifications. Depending on the category, cosmetics and personal care products may be covered: to be checked with a specialist.
Source: MoIAT, conformity certificates for regulated products (ECAS)
GSO 1943
The GSO (Gulf Standardization Organization) publishes technical regulations shared by Gulf countries. GSO 1943 sets the safety, labelling and packaging requirements for cosmetics and personal care products; the current edition was approved in 2024.
Source: GSO 1943:2024, safety requirements of cosmetics and personal care products
Official importer (importer of record)
The company that clears the goods through customs in its own name and pays import duty and VAT. In the UAE, it needs a trade licence and a customs code. It can import for a brand without buying its stock, depending on the contract.
Sources: Meydan Free Zone, “Customs code in Dubai” (accessed 18/10/2026) · Dubai Customs
Registered agent or distributor
In the UAE, Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 governs commercial agencies registered with the Ministry of Economy: territorial exclusivity and the end of the contract follow specific rules, to be read with an adviser before signing.
Source: CMS, “New dawn for commercial agencies in the UAE” (Federal Law 3/2022)
Mainland company
A company registered in an emirate outside the free zones, which can sell directly on the local market. Since the company law reform (Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021), most activities can be fully foreign-owned; some remain restricted.
Source: UAE government portal (u.ae), full foreign ownership of commercial companies
Free zone
An economic zone with its own authority, where a company can be fully foreign-owned. To sell on the local market, it works through a licensed mainland distributor, or opens a mainland branch or company.
Source: UAE government portal (u.ae), running a business in a free zone
CIF value and customs duty
CIF (cost, insurance, freight): the value of the goods delivered to the port of arrival. In the UAE, customs duty is generally 5% of that value.
Source: Dubai Customs
VAT in the UAE
A 5% VAT, charged at import and then on each sale (Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017).
Trademark registration in the UAE
Trademarks are registered with the federal Ministry of Economy and Tourism, online. Filing before appointing a distributor prevents a partner or a third party from registering it in its own name.
Selling inFrance.
Responsible Person
The natural or legal person established in the EU, designated for each cosmetic placed on the EU market, who guarantees its compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. For an imported product, it is the importer by default, unless another person is designated in writing.
Sources: Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, EUR-Lex · DGCCRF (French consumer authority), cosmetics guide
CPNP
The European Commission’s cosmetic product notification portal: the Responsible Person notifies each product there before it is placed on the market, with no further national notification within the EU.
Source: European Commission, Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP)
PIF (product information file)
The file kept available to the authorities for each cosmetic: product description, safety report, manufacturing method and proof of the claimed effects.
Source: Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, EUR-Lex
Fragrance allergens
Fragrance substances that must be named on the label above certain thresholds. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 extends the list, with a phased application: dates to be checked in the official text.
EORI number
The customs identification number of economic operators: required for any company established in the EU that imports or exports, and for a non-EU company that files customs declarations in the EU.
Source: European Commission, EORI number
French-language labelling
In France, the mandatory information on a product sold to consumers must be in French (law of 4 August 1994).
From shelfto order.
Price cascade
The path from the transfer price, the one the brand invoices, to the retail price on the shelf: transport, duties, the importer’s, distributor’s and retailer’s margins, then VAT. It is worked out from the shelf, not from the factory.
A questionabout your market?
What happens next
- 01A 20 to 30-minute conversation: your ambitions, your products, your markets.
- 02Scena’s presentation.
- 03A proposal built for your brand, from your signals and our analysis.
- 04Pricing, with that proposal.