ZMUni Compliance Centre

China Cosmetic Regulatory Updates

| New Cosmetics Ingredients

In May 2024, 8 new cosmetic ingredients were filed with the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). They include: 

The technical requirements for the 8 new cosmetic ingredients mentioned above have not been disclosed, and they have not yet entered the monitoring period.

| Regulations & Policies

On May 6, 2024, to implement the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation and improve cosmetics standards (including toothpaste), the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced the establishment of the Cosmetics Standardization Technical Committee.

On May 10, 2024, the China NMPA issued a new supplementary testing method: BJH 202402 Determination of Diflurasone Propionate in Cosmetics. Detailed Information see previous report here.

On May 15, 2024, the China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released seven supplementary testing methods for public consultation, including cosmetic ingredients, toothpaste, and toxicological tests. Comments are welcome until June 10, 2024. Detailed Information see previous report here.

On May 22, 2024, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) released the Measures on the Inspection, Supervision, and Administration of Import and Export Cosmetics (Draft for Comment). This initiative aims to ensure the quality and safety of imported and exported cosmetics, protect consumer health, and promote the high-quality development of the cosmetics industry. Public comments are welcome until June 22, 2024. Detailed Information see previous report here.

On May 31, 2024, the China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) issued a notice to solicit public comments on two technical guidelines (drafts): the Guideline for the Study and Determination of the Safety of Historical Use of New Cosmetic Ingredients (Trial) and the Guideline for the Study and Determination of the Safety of Historical Consumption of New Cosmetic Ingredients (Trial). Detailed Information see previous report here.

| Official FAQs

| Administrative Penalty 

On May 10, 2024, the Beijing Municipal Medical Products Administration announced the latest cosmetic quality and safety inspection results, revealing four batches of non-compliant products. Among them, three batches, including anti-acne serums, contained prohibited cosmetic ingredients, and one cleansing and shower gel had excessive compound levels.

International Cosmetic Regulatory Updates

| Europe

On May 16, 2024, the European Commission amended Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), imposed stricter limits on the use of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) in industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and dry cleaning.

On May 23, 2024, the European Union's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) released its final opinion on Titanium Dioxide (INCI name: Titanium dioxide). The SCCS considered all available information and concluded that the current evidence is insufficient to rule out the potential genotoxicity of almost all types of Titanium Dioxide used in oral cosmetics.

Moreover, based on existing information, SCCS cannot rule out potential genotoxicity concerns and, therefore, cannot provide a safe exposure limit for using Titanium Dioxide in cosmetics that may result in oral or inhalation exposure.

On May 27, 2024, SCCS released its preliminary opinion SCCS/1667/24 on a new nano Titanium Dioxide material, Eclipse 70. The SCCS stated that, due to insufficient information proving that the Titanium Dioxide in the composite coating (Eclipse 70) is similar in physicochemical properties, coating stability, and skin absorption to previously assessed nano Titanium Dioxide materials (SCCS/1516/13 - Revision of April 22, 2014), they could not reach a definitive conclusion on the safety of Eclipse 70 as a UV absorber.

| Southeast Asia

On May 17, 2024, Indonesia urgently enacted Minister of Trade Regulation No. 8 of 2024 (Permendag 8/2024) under the directive of President Joko Widodo, which came into effect immediately. This move is a remedy to Minister of Trade Regulation No. 36 of 2023 (Permendag 36/2023). After Permendag 36/2023 came into effect, it introduced "Import Licenses (PI)" and "Import Quotas" for various goods entering Indonesia, resulting in tens of thousands of containers being stranded at ports and disrupting general trade. Following the issuance of Permendag 8/2024, cosmetics arriving after March 10, 2024, are exempt from submitting an Import License (PI). They must only submit an Import Supervision Report (LS) and an Import Declaration (SKI) to clear customs.

Sources: Official regulatory authorities in respective countries/regions.