As China approaches the start of its 15th Five-Year Plan, the cosmetics industry is expected to enter a new stage of growth and transformation. This newly released Opinions serve as an important guide and reference for the development of China's cosmetics market over the next five years.
On November 17, 2025, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) officially released the final version of the Opinions on Deepening Cosmetics Regulatory Reform and Promoting High-Quality Development of the Industry. The draft of this document was publicly released for comments in September 2025.
The Opinions introduce 24 reform measures across five key areas, aiming to encourage innovation, optimize registration and notification management, strengthen risk control across the entire supply chain, enhance intelligent regulatory capabilities, and promote alignment with international standards. Highlights are as follows:
For international cosmetic products being launched in China for the first time, proof of sales in the country (or region) of manufacture is no longer required, following the regulations for products specifically produced for export to China.
While ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance, similar products under the same brand—differing only in certain ingredients such as colorants or fragrances—may share safety and technical documentation during registration or notification.
For cosmetics requiring re-registration due to a change in production site, original technical documentation can be used, except for microbiological and physicochemical testing reports.
Changes not affecting safety or efficacy claims may now be maintained by the registrant without submitting additional approval documents.
Except for claims related to whitening, sun protection, and anti-hair loss, registrants or notifiers may choose their preferred testing methods to evaluate product efficacy.
Focus on perming products, non-oxidative hair dyes, and new cosmetic ingredients in the monitoring period, accelerating the development, translation, and application of alternative testing methods, following the principle of "replace wherever possible."
Clarify the scope of exemptions from animal testing to minimize unnecessary use of animals.
Support the timely inclusion of ingredients that have been scientifically evaluated by internationally recognized authorities and have a history of safe use abroad into China's permitted ingredient list, accelerating ingredient access.
https://www.nmpa.gov.cn/xxgk/fgwj/gzwj/gzwjhzhp/20251117143349149.html
