Skip to main content
Vexpro ConsultoresVexpro Consultores
ESEN
ESEN
Talk on WhatsAppContact us
5 min readVexpro Editorial Team

INVIMA alert on a cosmetic without NSO: what companies selling through digital channels should review

INVIMA issued a sanitary alert after identifying the promotion and sale of a skin-lightening cosmetic without Mandatory Sanitary Notification through social media. The case is a practical reminder that digital cosmetic sales require NSO verification, documented controls and commercial traceability.

cosmetics. invima. nso. sanitary-surveillance. digital-channels.

On June 5, 2026, INVIMA published Sanitary Alert No. 162-2026 regarding the product "Despigmentante Isabel de Alba." According to the Colombian health authority, the product was being promoted and sold through social media, particularly Instagram, without a Mandatory Sanitary Notification (NSO) code for commercialization in Colombia.

The alert should not be read only as an isolated case involving a fraudulent product. For companies that manufacture, import, distribute or market cosmetics, the broader operational message is clear: digital channels are also within the scope of sanitary surveillance, and the absence of an NSO may trigger inspection, surveillance and control actions, as well as reputational and health-related risks.

What INVIMA reported

INVIMA stated that the case was detected through a complaint and subsequent inspection, surveillance and control activities. The authority noted that the product had no NSO, and no identified registration holder, manufacturer or importer within the available sanitary information.

INVIMA also warned that cosmetics without an NSO may pose health risks because there are no guarantees regarding quality, safety, composition, origin, manufacturing conditions, storage or transport. In this case, the alert mentions reports of adverse effects associated with use of the product, mainly in the application area.

For the market, the critical point is not only that an unauthorized product was detected. It is that digital promotion, social media sales and lack of traceability become risk factors that may affect distributors, commercial partners and brand owners when documented controls are not in place.

The NSO is not a decorative data point

Andean Community Decision 833 establishes the harmonized framework for cosmetic products in the subregion. Under that regime, cosmetic products require a Mandatory Sanitary Notification for commercialization, and commercialization must occur only after the competent national authority assigns the corresponding code.

In practical terms, the NSO connects several elements that a company should be able to support:

  • Identification of the NSO holder and manufacturer.
  • Qualitative formula and, when applicable, quantitative information for restricted substances.
  • Finished product specifications.
  • Labeling or label artwork.
  • Instructions for use, when applicable.
  • Batch coding system.
  • Technical support for the benefits, claims or cosmetic effects attributed to the finished product.

For that reason, verifying the NSO is not limited to checking whether a number appears in an advertisement. The company should confirm that the code corresponds to the actual product, brand, manufacturer, presentation, composition and labeling being marketed.

Companies that should review their exposure

This alert is relevant for several actors in the cosmetics chain:

  • NSO holders whose portfolios are sold through owned channels, distributors or social media.
  • Importers and distributors that include third-party brands in digital catalogs.
  • Contract manufacturers or maquila operators that must control destination and product identification.
  • Beauty centers, specialized retailers and commercial partners that recommend or sell cosmetics to final consumers.
  • Companies outsourcing marketing, sales or e-commerce without integrated regulatory control over published materials.

The risk increases when commercial teams publish claims, images, presentations or product names that have not been reconciled with the dossier and the relevant NSO. It also increases when companies sell products of uncertain origin, unauthorized samples, informal imports or references that do not match the notified information.

What the quality system should review

A preventive response to this type of alert should include at least five areas:

  1. Portfolio map: confirm that each cosmetic marketed in Colombia has a valid NSO or applicable recognition, and that the information matches the actual product.
  2. Digital channel control: review websites, marketplaces, social media, distributor catalogs and paid media assets to verify names, claims, images, warnings and NSO data.
  3. Commercial traceability: identify which batches, presentations and customers are associated with each reference, especially when third parties sell the product.
  4. Complaint and unexpected-event management: ensure that complaints, adverse reactions or safety signals are received, assessed, documented and escalated.
  5. Supplier and partner Due Diligence: retain evidence of origin, authorizations, manufacturer, holder, storage conditions and commercial responsibilities.

The review should be documented. If a company concludes that an alert does not affect its portfolio, it should be able to show how that conclusion was verified. If a possible link is identified, the response should be coordinated among technical direction, regulatory affairs, quality, commercial teams and customer service.

Skin-lightening claims: a sensitive area

Skin-lightening and depigmenting products require special attention because they often sit in a delicate commercial area: consumers expect visible results, but advertising cannot turn the product into a therapeutic promise or move it away from the applicable cosmetic definition.

Decision 833 states that cosmetics must not declare therapeutic indications or other claims that contradict their definition. Therefore, before launching or promoting a line associated with spots, skin tone, lightening, uniformity or facial care, the company should review whether the claims are supported, non-misleading and aligned with the notified scope.

In digital channels, this control must be continuous. A product page, advertisement, Instagram story, influencer post or marketplace description may create regulatory exposure if it is not aligned with the technical-regulatory dossier.

A signal to strengthen regulatory governance

INVIMA's alert shows that sanitary surveillance is not limited to the physical product on a shelf. It also covers how the product is presented, promoted and distributed in digital environments. For cosmetics companies, this requires regulatory affairs to be integrated from portfolio design through commercial execution.

Vexpro supports cosmetics companies with NSO review, dossiers, labeling, claims, traceability and quality systems related to the regulatory lifecycle before INVIMA. When your portfolio moves through digital channels, an early assessment helps reduce documentation gaps and organize the response to potential alerts or authority requests.

Sources consulted

Share
View all articles