ZMUni Compliance Centre

    On October 23, 2026, China's National Institutes for Drug Control (NIDC) issued the Trial Mechanism for Innovation Guidance on New Cosmetic Ingredients, aiming to encourage innovation in cosmetic ingredients and accelerate their market introduction and use.   Under the mechanism, the NIDC, the technical review body for cosmetics under the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), will work with provincial medical products administrations to provide pre-submission technical guidance to applicants seeking to register or notify new cosmetic ingredients.   The mechanism establishes three types of guidance:   Guidance Type Responsible Authorities Key Details Innovation Guidance for Key Ingredients NIDC

  On October 15, 2026, China's National Institutes for Drug Control (NIFDC) opened two cosmetic standards for public consultation: Cosmetic Freeze-Dried Products and Cosmetics for Single Use.  Comments are invited until November 22, 2026.   Cosmetic Freeze-Dried Products As vacuum freeze-drying technology becomes increasingly common in cosmetics, freeze-dried products are gaining popularity for their ability to preserve the activity of ingredients and extend shelf life. The Cosmetic Freeze-Dried Products standard establishes quality requirements covering sensory properties, physicochemical properties, microbiological limits and harmful substances. It specifies test methods for key parameters such as moisture content and reconstitution, and sets requirements for

    On October 15, 2026, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued Announcement No. 100 of 2026, introducing the Toothpaste Classification Catalogue. The new catalogue establishes a unified framework for classifying toothpaste products based on their efficacy claims and intended users, while setting clearer requirements for product filing and labelling.   The catalogue will take effect on May 1, 2027, with transitional arrangements for products already on the market.     Eight Efficacy Categories and Two User Groups   The catalogue divides toothpaste products into eight efficacy categories, each with defined mechanisms of action and corresponding claim wording. Code

This article provides a comprehensive overview of key regulatory developments in the food sector in September 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.     Asia    🔘 Hong Kong Proposes Amendments to Sweeteners in Food Regulations   On September 4, 2026, Hong Kong launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Sweeteners in Food Regulations (Cap. 132U). Key proposals include extending regulatory coverage to sugar alcohols, expanding the list

    On October 12, 2026, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) issued a public consultation on 6 new varieties of food additives. The consultation is open until November 12, 2026, and comments or suggestions can be submitted to the official email address: xspyl@cfsa.net.cn. Details are as follows:     1. D-psicose-3-epimerase   D-psicose-3-epimerase has previously been approved as an enzyme preparation for use in the food industry under the National Health Commission (NHC) Announcement No. 3 of 2023 and subsequent announcements.   The D-psicose-3-epimerase currently under public consultation is a new enzyme preparation derived from a

  On October 8, 2026, China's National Institutes for Drug Control (NIDC) released draft Guidelines for the Identification of New Cosmetic Ingredients (Trial) for public consultation.   The draft aims to clarify how new cosmetic ingredients (NCIs) are identified in China, an area that has long posed challenges for the industry, particularly when dealing with plant extracts, fermentation-derived ingredients, and ingredients developed using innovative manufacturing processes.   To address these uncertainties, the guidelines propose a unified framework for determining NCI status based on three key factors: substance identity, intended use, and safety risks. This would provide clearer technical guidance for

    On October 8, 2026, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued an announcement clarifying the implementation requirements for recent revisions to the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC), aiming to ease compliance and avoid unnecessary retesting.   The revisions cover prohibited, restricted and permitted ingredients, limits for microorganisms and harmful substances, and testing methods. The announcement provides specific guidance for products already registered or notified, as well as those undergoing technical review or awaiting submission.   For existing registered or notified products, where revisions involve testing methods, registrants and notifiers must assess whether their products meet the

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 September 2026, with an emphasis on updates in cosmetic ingredients and cosmetic management, among other areas.     China Cosmetic Regulatory Updates     New Cosmetics Ingredients (NCI)   In September 2026, 12 new cosmetic ingredients were notified with the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). They include:   The technical requirements for the 12 NCIs mentioned above