ZMUni Compliance Centre

  This article summarizes the regulatory developments related to food within China and internationally in April 2025, with an emphasis on updates in regulations concerning new food ingredients, food additives, feed additives, and health foods.   China Food Regulatory Updates   Special Food     In April 2025, the National Technical Committee on Standardization of Special Foods (TC466) released eight national standards for health foods. They are: "Determination of Pantothenic Acid in Health Foods" (GB/T 22246-2025) "Determination of Inositol in Health Foods" (GB/T 45242-2025) "Determination of Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Niacin, Nicotinamide and Caffeine in Health Foods" (GB/T 45243-2025) "Determination of Icariin in Health Foods"

  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 within China and globe in April 2025, with an emphasis on updates in cosmetic ingredient, cosmetic safety assessment, labeling, etc.   China Cosmetic Regulatory Updates   New Cosmetics Ingredients (NCI) Notification   In April 2025, 16 new cosmetic ingredients were notified with the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). They include:     The technical requirements for the 16 new cosmetic ingredients mentioned above have not been disclosed, and they have

  On April 30, 2025, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued a new supplementary testing method: BJH 202501 Determination of Meprednisone in Cosmetics.   This method outlines the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Meprednisone (CAS No.1247-42-3) in various categories of cosmetics, such as liquid (water, oil), cream and milk, gel, and wax-based products.   Meprednisone is a type of glucocorticoid, with common derivatives including methylprednisolone acetate and related compounds. Glucocorticoids and their by-products are known for their skin-lightening and anti-allergic properties. When added to cosmetics, these substances can significantly enhance effects such as acne reduction, anti-inflammation, pigmentation fading, and whitening.   However, prolonged use may

On April 18, 2025, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) published its list of non-compliant imported food products for March 2025. A total of 231 batches from 40 countries and regions were denied entry, marking a 13.5% decrease compared to the previous month and an 8.0% decline year-on-year.   Significantly, this is the fourth consecutive month of decline since the number of rejected imports peaked in November 2024. Analysts suggest the downward trend may be influenced by external factors, including adjustments to U.S. tariff policies.   The majority of non-compliant imports came from the U.S. (23%), Spain ranked second (9.1%), Brazil (8.2%), and

        Recently, South Korea's National Assembly officially passed the Synthetic Biology Promotion Act, making it the first country in the world to enact legislation specifically dedicated to the field of synthetic biology. The law will come into effect in 2026, following cabinet approval and promulgation, after a one-year preparation period. To ensure smooth implementation, the South Korean government plans to simultaneously advance supplementary legislation, including enforcement decrees and relevant guidelines.   Synthetic biology is regarded as a cutting-edge field that integrates artificial intelligence, big data, and life sciences. It has wide-ranging applications in areas such as vaccine

If you would like to gain a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the management of cosmetic ingredients in China, we invite you to explore our previous article, Cosmetic Ingredients in China: Your Guide to the Latest Compliance Requirements. It provides helpful insights to build a solid foundation before diving into this topic.     From April 22 to 28, 2025, 7 new cosmetic ingredients were notified with the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). They include:   The technical requirements for the 7 new cosmetic ingredients mentioned above have not been disclosed, and they have not yet entered the safety monitoring period.  

  When querying overseas ingredient manufacturers and distributors about the requirements for exporting ingredients for cosmetic use in China, the most common response is "Yes, we've completed NMPA registration." However, what does NMPA registration truly entail, and what are the specific obligations for exporting cosmetic ingredients to China?   This article offers a practical and up-to-date overview of cosmetic ingredients regulatory requirements in China to help relevant stakeholders navigate regulatory challenges with confidence.   Regulatory Landscape: CSAR and Key Authorities   China's cosmetics market is regulated by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). On January 1, 2021, the Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR)

On April 24, 2025, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued a public consultation on the draft "Catalog of Permitted Health Claims for Health Foods: Aids in Maintaining Joint Health." Stakeholders are invited to submit their feedback by June 2, 2025   This marks the first new health function proposed to be included in the official health claim catalog since the issuance of the “Implementation Rules for the Evaluation of New Health Functions and Product Technologies of Health Foods (Trial)”.   The newly proposed function, “aids in maintaining joint health,” encompasses several specific benefits, including alleviating joint pain and