ZMUni Compliance Centre

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 April 2026, with an emphasis on updates in cosmetic ingredients and cosmetic management, among other areas.   China Cosmetic Regulatory Updates New Cosmetics Ingredients (NCI)   In April 2026, 22 new cosmetic ingredients were notified with the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). They include:   The technical requirements for the 22 NCIs mentioned above have not been disclosed, and they have

  On April 30, 2026, China's National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released two draft cosmetic standards for public consultation, including the Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Skin Whitening Cosmetic Products and the Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Anti-hair Loss Cosmetic Products. The public consultation period is open until June 5, 2026.   Compared with the existing methods under China's Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition), the revised Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Skin Whitening Cosmetic Products and Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Anti-hair Loss Cosmetic Products update the scope, subject selection criteria, testing

    From April 20 to 29, 2026, 8 new cosmetic ingredients (NCIs) have completed notifications with China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).     Botanical Extracts   Nitraria tangutorum is a species in the genus Nitraria (family Nitrariaceae), typically found in desert and semi-desert regions. Its fruits are rich in proteins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and various trace elements.   Solanum americanum is an annual herb in the genus Solanum (family Solanaceae). Native to tropical regions of the Americas, it is now widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It has been traditionally associated with properties such as heat-clearing, detoxification, and reducing swelling.   Trillium tschonoskii (a perennial

    On April 29, 2024, China's National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released the 2025 Annual Review Report on Cosmetics.   The Report summarizes the NIFDC's key efforts in 2025, including advancing review system reforms, supporting cosmetic ingredient innovation, improving the standards framework, and promoting the implementation of the cosmetic safety assessment system. It also analyzes registration and notification data for cosmetics and new cosmetic ingredients, providing an overview of recent developments in China's cosmetics industry.     New Cosmetic Ingredient Applications: Steady Growth Led by Domestic Players   In 2025, China accepted 7 new cosmetic ingredient (NCI) registration applications in

      On April 24, 2026, China National Medical Products Administration issued the 2026 Cosmetics Standard Project Plan. A total of 27 cosmetics-related standard projects have been included in this year's plan, comprising one revision project and 26 newly established standards.   The planned standards cover key areas of the cosmetics regulatory system, including ingredient standards, product standards, analytical and testing methods for cosmetic substances, toxicological and safety assessment methods, as well as specialized methods for sunscreen performance evaluation and toothpaste testing and efficacy assessment.   The detailed information is as follows:   No. Standard Project Name Revision/Formulation 1 2-Methoxy-methyl-p-phenylenediamine

On April 21, 2026, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) released its list of non-compliant imported food products for March 2026. A total of 445 batches from 37 countries and regions were denied entry, representing a a month-on-month decrease of approximately 2% (down 7 batches from 452 in February 2026) and a year-on-year increase of about 93% (up 214 batches from 231 in the same period last year).   The rejected shipments spanned a wide range of categories, including jams, alcoholic beverages, confectionery and chocolate products, frozen meat, poultry and seafood, nuts and nut products, beverages, baked goods, condiments, fruit products, and chocolate items.   By country of origin

  From April 13 to 17, 2026, 5 new cosmetic ingredients (NCIs) have completed notifications with China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).     Notification 20260061 - Green Crab Peptides   According to public reports, this is a novel natural polypeptide preservative derived from marine antimicrobial peptides. It is unmodified, with a clear mechanism of action and no known risk of inducing antimicrobial resistance.   The ingredient provides effective antimicrobial protection alongside anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin-repair benefits. It is stable under high temperatures and across a wide pH range, highly water-soluble, and non-irritating, making it suitable for sensitive skin applications. Produced via fermentation or synthesis,

    On April 15, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released six technical guidelines to further standardize the research and evaluation of hair dye, perming, and sunscreen products.   The six guidelines are: Technical Guidelines for Hair Dye Cosmetics (Trial) Technical Guidelines for Quality Control of Hair Dye Cosmetics (Trial) Technical Guidelines for Perming Cosmetics (Trial) Technical Guidelines for Quality Control of Perming Cosmetics (Trial) Technical Guidelines for Sunscreen Cosmetics (Trial) Technical Guidelines for Quality Control of Sunscreen Cosmetics (Trial)   These trial guidelines close a key regulatory gap by introducing category-specific standards for hair dye, perming, and sunscreen