ZMUni Compliance Centre

On August 6, 2026, China's National Institute for Drug Control (NIDC) issued a notice seeking public comments on nine cosmetic standards. The proposed revisions cover the following areas:

Addition of New Prohibited Cosmetic Ingredients

Three existing cosmetic ingredients are proposed to be added to the List of Prohibited Cosmetic Ingredients (Table 1) under the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC).

Updates to Ingredient Restrictions, Labeling Requirements, and Hair Dye Requirements

The proposed revisions include new restrictions, updated labeling requirements, and expanded permitted uses for certain colorants.

Introduction of a New Cosmetic Safety Testing Method

A new Skin Sensitisation Test Method is proposed to establish the principles, requirements, and procedures for evaluating the skin sensitization potential of cosmetic ingredients and products. The proposed method is aligned with the OECD TG 406 international standard and would provide an additional toxicological evaluation approach for cosmetic safety assessment. 

Key Takeaways

The proposed amendments further align China's cosmetic regulatory framework with international requirements and may impact:

• Ingredient compliance assessments;

• Formula adjustments for affected products;

• Labeling requirements for formaldehyde-releasing substances;

• Usage conditions for certain colorants and hair dye products.