ZMUni Compliance Centre

China's Cosmetics Market: Stable Growth and Continuous Regulatory Improvements   China remains the world's largest cosmetics consumer market. In 2025, the industry's total market value exceeded RMB 1.1 trillion (approx. USD 150 billion) for the first time.[1]   China's overall consumer market also continued to grow. Total retail sales of consumer goods reached RMB 50.1 trillion (approx. USD 7 trillion) in 2025, up 3.7% year-on-year. Cosmetics retail sales grew 5.1%, outperforming the overall consumption growth rate and highlighting the sector's continued resilience.[2]   In international trade, China's cosmetics import and export value reached USD 24 billion in 2025, representing a

This article provides a comprehensive overview of key regulatory developments in the food sector in February 2026, both in China and internationally. It focuses on updates related to new food ingredients, food additives, health foods, and feed, aiming to offer timely and in-depth regulatory alerts for enterprises engaged in food import and export.   China Food Regulatory Updates China   🔘 China Three New Foods Updates in February   Issue Date Type Category Substance February 5, 2026 Approval Notice Three New Foods See details February 11, 2026 Public Consultation New Food Ingredient Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CP-9 February 14, 2026 Public Consultation

The global cosmetics regulatory environment continues to evolve. To help businesses stay updated with regulatory changes, ZMUni Compliance Center regularly releases a monthly recap of global cosmetics regulations. This article covers the regulatory developments related to cosmetics in China and globally in February 2026, with an emphasis on updates in cosmetic ingredients and cosmetic management, among other areas.     China Cosmetic Regulatory Updates New Cosmetics Ingredients (NCI) In February 2026, 17 new cosmetic ingredients were notified with the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). They include:   The technical requirements for the 17 NCIs mentioned above have not been disclosed, and they have not

  From February 24 to March 3, 2026, 7 new cosmetic ingredients (NCIs) have completed notifications with China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).      Staphylococcus Epidermidis Ferment Filtrate Staphylococcus epidermidis is a commensal bacterium naturally found on human skin. Often referred to as a "sentinel bacterium," it plays an important role in maintaining skin homeostasis.   Freda previously published a related study in Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins (DOI: 10.1007/s12602-025-10877-9). The research focused on the cell-free fermentation supernatant of Staphylococcus epidermidis CCSM0322, a strain isolated from healthy skin. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin barrier protective effects were evaluated using a UVB-induced HaCaT in vitro model.  

  From February 6 to 24, 2026, 5 new cosmetic ingredients (NCIs) have completed notifications with China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).   Although the technical requirements have not yet been disclosed, their general categories can be inferred from the ingredient nomenclature. Judging from the names, they cover a plant extract, a fermentation-derived ingredient, a synthetic polymer, a nucleic acid–based derivative, and a bioactive peptide.     Dendrobium Huoshanense Stem Extract Dendrobium huoshanense, also known as Mi Hu (米斛), is a Dendrobium species endemic to Huoshan County, Anhui Province, China. It is regarded as the most valuable species among Dendrobium used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Imports of cosmetics in China reached $16.18 billion, marking a mild 0.9% year-on-year decline—the smallest drop since imports entered a negative growth cycle in 2022 and a significant improvement from the 9.0% contraction in 2024.   Import Slump Eases Significantly, Domestic Market Warms Up   China's cosmetics imports have been in a sustained negative growth phase since 2022, with declines of 10.6%, 19.4% and 9.0% in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively, resulting in a total reduction of $8.55 billion over the three years. Although still in negative territory, the marginal 0.9% decline in 2025 signals a clear stabilization and recovery

This article provides a comprehensive overview of key regulatory developments in the food sector in January 2026, both in China and internationally. It focuses on updates related to new food ingredients, food additives, health foods, and feed, aiming to offer timely and in-depth regulatory alerts for enterprises engaged in food import and export.   China Food Regulatory Updates Chinese Mainland   🔘 China Approves New Health Function Claims to Support Bone and Joint Health   On January 15, 2026, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) officially added a new health function to the Health Function Catalogue Allowed for Health Food Claims - Helps

    On February 6, China's National Institute for Food and Drug Control(NIFDC) issued a notice, seeking public comments on six cosmetic standards, all of which pertain to microbiological testing methods. Comments can be submitted through the Cosmetic Standards Development and Revision Management System by March 22, 2026.   The six draft standards are as follows: 1. General Guidelines for Microbiological Examination Methods in Cosmetics 2. Aerobic Plate Count in Cosmetics 3. Detection of Thermotolerant Coliform Bacteria in Cosmetics 4. Detection of Staphylococcus Aureus in Cosmetics 5. Detection of Mold and Yeast in Cosmetics 6. Detection of Burkholderia cepacia Complex in Cosmetics