导航菜单
On July 29, 2026, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued Announcement No.70 of 2026 on Matters Related to Cosmetic Registration and Notification Management.
The Announcement introduces eight measures to optimize cosmetic registration and notification procedures, covering key areas such as product launches, ingredient management, efficacy evaluation, manufacturing changes, and Responsible Person updates. These measures aim to reduce compliance burdens, improve regulatory efficiency, and support innovation in the cosmetics industry.
Previously, overseas cosmetic brands applying for product registration or notification in China were required to provide proof that the product was already marketed in the country or region of manufacture, together with physical packaging samples.
Under the new policy, for products launched first in China or simultaneously with overseas markets, the overseas marketing authorization document may be replaced by a first-launch commitment statement, and packaging samples may be replaced by packaging design drafts.
The change is expected to significantly accelerate market entry for international cosmetic products and provide greater flexibility for global brands prioritizing the Chinese market.
Animal testing requirements have historically been one of the major regulatory considerations for global cosmetic companies entering China. Previously, exemptions were mainly available for certain categories of general cosmetics, while special cosmetics were still required to submit full toxicological testing reports.
The new policy expands the exemption scope to include, under specific conditions, hair perm products, non-oxidative hair dyes, whitening products with physical coverage effects only, and general cosmetics containing new cosmetic ingredients. However, children's cosmetics remain excluded from the exemption.
Previously, cosmetic companies were required to submit ingredient safety information files and ingredient submission codes during product registration or notification. These requirements increased administrative workload, particularly when ingredient information needed to be updated.
Under the new policy, applicants only need to provide the ingredient manufacturer's name in product submissions, while supporting ingredient documentation shall be retained by enterprises for future regulatory review. The NMPA will no longer require submission or public disclosure of ingredient submission codes.
Previously, products under the same brand and from the same registrant/notifier with similar formulation systems were generally required to undergo separate safety and efficacy evaluations, resulting in duplicated testing costs and longer product launch timelines.
For example, different shades within the same lipstick collection may only differ in the type or amount of colorants used, but each shade was still required to complete a full set of testing. This could significantly increase testing costs and delay product launches, particularly for color cosmetic brands.
Under the new policy, products with similar formulation systems from the same registrant/notifier and under the same brand may share evaluation data. Companies may select representative products for testing, while other similar products can rely on the same reports by providing a scientific justification for data sharing.
Shared safety evaluation data may cover microbiological and physicochemical testing, toxicological testing, and human safety testing. Shared efficacy evaluation data is allowed for most efficacy claims, except for whitening, sunscreen, and anti-hair loss claims.
For manufacturing site changes, previously, products transferred to a new manufacturing location, including transfer to domestic production or the addition of a domestic manufacturer, generally required complete re-testing. Under the new policy, if there are no substantial changes to the registrant, formulation, or product standards, existing reports such as toxicological testing, human safety testing, safety assessment, and efficacy evaluation may be reused. Only microbiological and physicochemical testing needs to be repeated.
The policy also simplifies Responsible Person changes by removing the previous requirement to obtain consent from the original Responsible Person or submit relevant legal documents. Applicants only need to provide a notarized authorization document, product list, and commitment letter from the new Responsible Person.
These changes reduce administrative obstacles and provide greater flexibility for overseas companies managing manufacturing arrangements and regulatory responsibilities in China.
The new policy allows companies to use internationally recognized and scientifically valid testing methods for efficacy evaluation, rather than being limited to methods specified in China's current guidelines.
This provides greater flexibility for evaluating emerging efficacy claims and innovative technologies, enabling more targeted and differentiated product development.
*Source: China pharmaceutical News
