导航菜单
On May 6, 2026, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) released the Administrative Measures on Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics (GACC Order No. 284), which will take effect on December 1, 2026, allowing a transition period of over seven months for industry compliance preparation.
The new Measures replace the previous framework issued in 2011 and revised in 2018. Against the backdrop of evolving trade practices and the implementation of China's Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR), the regulatory system has been updated to better align with digitalized supervision and current industry development.
Compared with the 2018 version, the new Measures introduce significant updates in regulatory approach, notification verification, digital supervision, and corporate compliance requirements. Key highlights are summarized below:
The previous mandatory customs filing requirement for import consignees and export manufacturers is removed, eliminating paper-based pre-clearance procedures.
Imported cosmetics now only require NMPA registration or notification, with customs carrying out automatic digital verification through system-based data matching, without additional paper submissions.
This shift enables full interoperability between regulatory and customs databases, moving supervision from manual review to data-driven verification.
Inspection is no longer restricted to ports of entry. Customs authorities may conduct inspections at the declared destination and flexibly designate inspection sites based on facilitation needs. This reduces port congestion and improves clearance efficiency and logistics flexibility.
More detailed provisions are introduced for sample management. Samples used for registration, notification, testing, R&D, or non-sale promotional purposes may be exempt from inspection, provided that reasonable quantities are maintained and supporting documentation, including usage explanations and non-commercial declarations, is submitted. Sample traceability records must be retained for at least two years.
In addition, cosmetics imported for diplomatic use by foreign missions in China are also exempt from inspection.
A tiered retention system is introduced:
Products with shelf life: retained until one year after expiration
Products with shelf life under one year: retained for at least two years
Sample records: retained for two years
A risk-based supervision system is introduced. Based on risk levels, customs authorities may adopt differentiated measures, including intensified inspection, risk alerts, or suspension of imports. In cases of serious safety risks, GACC may initiate emergency response measures, with regulatory intensity dynamically adjusted according to risk changes.
A strict zero-tolerance rule is introduced for non-compliant products. Where inspection reveals safety, health, or environmental risks—such as microbial contamination, prohibited or restricted substances, heavy metals, or other hazardous materials—customs will directly order destruction or return, with no technical treatment, rectification, or re-inspection allowed.
A credit classification system is established for importers, exporters, and consignors. Credit ratings are linked to inspection frequency and clearance facilitation.
High-credit enterprises benefit from simplified procedures, while non-compliant entities face stricter supervision.
Ordinary soap is excluded from cosmetics regulation, while products claiming cosmetic functions remain within scope. Toothpaste and cosmetic semi-finished products are regulated under this framework; however, imported semi-finished cosmetics are exempt from registration/notification verification and labeling review at the import stage.
Penalty provisions are simplified, focusing on key violations. For instance, failure to return or destroy non-compliant goods may result in warnings or fines of up to RMB 10,000, while other violations are governed under existing legislation.
The implementation of GACC Order No. 284marks a significant transformation in China's import and export cosmetics regulation—from a process-driven model to a more intelligent system combining risk-based and credit-based supervision.
For compliant enterprises, this represents a major opportunity to reduce costs and improve efficiency. For operators relying on loose compliance or regulatory arbitrage, oversight will become more precise and constraints more stringent.
A thorough understanding of the new rules and timely compliance upgrades will be key to gaining a competitive edge in the industry's ongoing drive toward greater standardization.
