ZMUni Compliance Centre

Today (Tuesday, March 19, 2024), China's National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) unveils two draft technical guidelines for cosmetic safety assessment.

The first set of guidelines focuses on the application of the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) method in cosmetic safety assessment.

It covers various aspects, including an overview, scope, terminology, substance classification, assessment procedures, and mixtures. Additionally, it includes three appendices:

• Appendix 1 presents a flowchart illustrating the application of TTC in cosmetic safety assessment

• Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 provide examples of applying the TTC method in safety assessments of cosmetic ingredients, specifically chemical substances and plant extracts, respectively.

The second set of guidelines addresses the application of Read-Across in cosmetic safety assessment. It provides an overview, outlines the scope of the application, defines relevant terms, explains the basic principles, and outlines the assessment procedures.

The guidelines also incorporate two appendices:

• Appendix 1 presents a flowchart illustrating the application of Read-across in cosmetic safety assessment,

• Appendix 2 offers examples of applying the Read-Across method using a category approach for safety assessments of cosmetic ingredients.

Companies and stakeholders are encouraged to contribute their insights and suggestions on these guidelines. Feedback can be submitted to hzpbwh@nifdc.org.cn until April 7, 2024. The NIFDC aims to gather a wide range of perspectives to ensure the effectiveness and accuracy of the guidelines in ensuring the safety of cosmetic products.