We’ve translated a selection of some of the latest FAQs on cosmetics registration and filing in China with a focus on execution standard to help you understand the current requirements.

We are pleased to announce the launch of an upgraded Chinese Cosmetic Ingredient Regulatory Database – China CosIng 2.0 – to better help global cosmetic companies and ingredient suppliers comply with cosmetic regulatory requirements in China. The powerful new China CosIng 2.0 introduces several new features and is available in English, Japanese, and Korean.

We’ve translated a selection of some of the latest FAQs on cosmetics registration and filing in China with a focus on cosmetics efficacy to help you understand the current requirements.

FAQs on Cosmetics Registration and Filing in China-Safety Assessment

FAQs from Beijing Cosmetics Review and Inspection Center on Ordinary Cosmetics Filing

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 epidemic, disinfection products are far more widely used in daily lives in various scenarios. Enterprises have fastened their steps in new disinfection products development. To apply for a sanitary administrative license for “three new” disinfection products, related enterprises must: Judge whether your products are classified as “three new” disinfection products; Apply for notification under the requirements of Provisions on the Acceptance of Application for New Disinfection Products and the Application Guide issued by the National Health Commission. However, it is significantly difficult to notify a new disinfection product. There are uncertainties about the specific requirements, testing items, costs and application cycle for different products.

On October 27, 2022, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control released a FAQ regarding the NMPA codes for cosmetic ingredients. It is worth mentioning that the Platform of Cosmetic Ingredients is only developed to improve the efficiency of cosmetic registration and filing and the competent authorities will not review the submitted safety information. Related enterprises (ingredient manufacturers and enterprises that need to use the ingredient) must bear responsibility for the legality, authenticity, accuracy, and integrity of the ingredient safety information. Enterprises obtaining NMPA codes for one cosmetic ingredient does not mean the ingredient have been approved by the regulatory authority.

Triethanolamine has been getting a lot of attention recently but there is some confusion over mixtures containing it. In general, the concentration of triethanolamine in cosmetics is less than 0.5%, accounting for a low proportion. According to Article 57 of the Detailed Rules on the Implementation of Administration Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Administration of Monitored and Controlled Chemicals (MCCs), when the concentration of MCCs is lower than a certain concentration threshold, data declaration and import and export licensing can be exempted. Recently, there was an inquiry on the official website of the General Administration of Customs about the necessity of applying for an Import/Export License for hand sanitizers containing a trace quantity of triethanolamine (0.051).

Since China's overarching cosmetic regulation – Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulations (CSAR) – came into force on January 1, 2021, the authorities have been paying close attention to regulatory compliance and punishing enterprises for non-compliance. This article focuses on four of the main categories of non-compliance and provides case studies for each.

There is a diverse range of cosmetic packaging materials, such as glass, metal, plastic, and soft paper packaging. As the last process in the modern cosmetics industry, packaging is necessary to keep the contents clean and safe. However, it is also important to make sure the packaging itself does not pollute the cosmetics or add any unsafe factors to the contents. In addition, consumers’ understanding and judgment of cosmetics products often relies on the information provided on the products and by the sellers, the display of such information, to a large extent, determines consumers’ purchasing decisions and use methods for products.