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On August 6, China officially issued its first mandatory national standard for cosmetics the GB 7916-2026 Cosmetics—General Safety Requirements, drafted under the organization of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The standard will come into force on January 1, 2028. Following the implementation of the new standard, the GB 7916-1987 Hygienic Standard for Cosmetics, which was introduced in 1987, will be abolished accordingly.
The issuance of GB 7916-2026 marks a significant update to China's cosmetic safety standard system. Regulatory focus will further shift from traditional "hygiene management" toward full lifecycle safety management, covering all stages from raw materials, formulation, manufacturing, storage, and use.
To strengthen the safety baseline for cosmetics, GB 7916-2026 mainly introduce provisions in four key areas:
Within the current cosmetic regulatory framework, GB 7916-2026 consolidate and improve scattered technical requirements, including those under the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC), and establish comprehensive safety requirements covering the entire chain from raw materials to finished products in the form of a mandatory national standard.
GB 7916-2026 provide comprehensive definitions and classifications for key concepts related to cosmetics, including prohibited substances, restricted ingredients, permitted UV filters and colorants, packaging materials, and other related terms. This aims to establish a more scientific understanding of the scope and boundaries of cosmetic quality and safety management.
GB 7916-2026 introduce stricter standards for products such as children's cosmetics, as well as products applied around the eyes, on eyelashes, and on lips. The permitted limit for total microbial count in these products is set 10 times stricter than that for general cosmetic products, with enhanced controls applied to high-risk products.
GB 7916-2026 establish strict limits for hazardous substances, including mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium, and comprehensively revise the list of prohibited substances in cosmetics. Meanwhile, flexibility is reserved for future updates to the prohibited substance list in line with scientific developments. When the NMPA issues announcements updating the prohibited substance list or related requirements, the latest announced requirements shall prevail.
The Requirements establish a reasonable transition period. GB 7916-2026 will take effect on January 1, 2028. Cosmetics that have already been manufactured or imported before the implementation date may continue to be sold until the end of their shelf life.
