East Asia · Mainland China
What does it take to sell cosmetics in Mainland China? Entry route, responsibility, labeling
Pre-market: 普通化妆品备案 (filing) for general cosmetics and 特殊化妆品注册 (NMPA registration) for sp…; Responsible person: Overseas registrants/filers must appoint a 境内责任人 (domestic …; Labeling: Chinese label mandatory under 化妆品标签管理办法 (in force….
Latest change 2026-07-29 — NMPA Announcement No. 70 (2026) introduced eight registration/filing optimisation measures, incl. wider animal-test exemptions, shared test reports for similar formulas and ingredient safety data kept on file instead of submitted. Source
Factory-side digest; the official text prevails; not legal advice.
- Authority
- National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)
- Main regulation
- State Council Decree No. 727 (promulgated 2020-06-16) · Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics (CSAR)
- In force
- 2021-01-01
- Market entry
- Pre-market: 普通化妆品备案 (filing) for general cosmetics and 特殊化妆品注册 (NMPA registration) for special cosmetics (hair dye, perm, freckle-whitening, sunscreen, anti-hair-loss, new efficacy), under 化妆品注册备案管理办法 (SAMR Order No. 35, in force 2021-05-01).
- Responsible person
- Overseas registrants/filers must appoint a 境内责任人 (domestic responsible person, a Chinese legal entity) that files the product and bears joint liability for quality and safety.
- Safety file
- 产品安全评估报告 per 化妆品安全评估技术导则 (2021): simplified reports were accepted only until 2025-05-01 (NMPA Announcement 2024 No. 50); since then a full-version assessment is required, with eligible general cosmetics allowed to submit the 安全评估基本结论 and keep the full report on file for inspection.
- Labeling
- Chinese label mandatory under 化妆品标签管理办法 (in force 2022-05-01): full ingredient list in descending order using standard Chinese names, ingredients at or below 0.1% grouped under 其他微量成分; efficacy claims must be substantiated under 化妆品功效宣称评价规范; no fragrance-allergen naming rule.
- Animal testing
- Not required for domestic general cosmetics; imported general cosmetics have been exempt from toxicology tests since 2021-05-01 if the manufacturer holds a GMP certificate from its home authority and the safety assessment confirms safety, except children's products, products using new ingredients under monitoring, or firms under key supervision; NMPA No. 70 (2026) widened the exemptions.
- Ingredient lists
- 化妆品安全技术规范 (2015年版, continuously updated: prohibited, restricted, permitted preservatives/UV filters/colorants/hair dyes) plus 已使用化妆品原料目录 (2021年版, 5th adjustment 2026-08-19).
- Notes
- The full-version safety-assessment cut-off is 2025-05-01. Other 2026 items: NMPA Announcement No. 48 (2026-05-15, mercury standard effective 2026-07-01; o-phenylphenol and Acid Violet 43 from 2028-06-01), No. 51 (2026-05-29, eight test methods effective 2027-03-01), GACC Announcement No. 61 (2026-05-11, import/export inspection rules effective 2026-12-01), e-label pilots in Shanghai/Guangdong, and a draft mandatory national labelling standard under consultation.
- Look up this inventory here
- 中国 · Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics — prohibited and restricted
- Official text
- https://www.nmpa.gov.cn/hzhp/hzhpfgwj/index.html
Changes 2025–2026
- China NMPA Announcement No. 70 (2026) streamlines registration and filing
Eight measures: a first-launch-in-China commitment replaces home-market sale proof, animal-test exemptions widen, ingredient safety data are archived instead of submitted, similar formulas may share test reports, cross-border production transfers and domestic-responsible-person changes are simplified, and more efficacy-test methods are accepted. Source
- China stops accepting simplified safety assessment reports
The one-year transition under NMPA Announcement 2024 No. 50 ended, so every new registration or filing now needs a full-version safety assessment per the 2021 Technical Guidelines, with eligible general cosmetics submitting the basic conclusion and keeping the full report on file. Source
FAQ
Does Mainland China require notification or registration before sale?
Pre-market: 普通化妆品备案 (filing) for general cosmetics and 特殊化妆品注册 (NMPA registration) for special cosmetics (hair dye, perm, freckle-whitening, sunscreen, anti-hair-loss, new efficacy), under 化妆品注册备案管理办法 (SAMR Order No. 35, in force 2021-05-01).
Is a local responsible person mandatory in Mainland China?
Overseas registrants/filers must appoint a 境内责任人 (domestic responsible person, a Chinese legal entity) that files the product and bears joint liability for quality and safety.
What are the labeling requirements in Mainland China?
Chinese label mandatory under 化妆品标签管理办法 (in force 2022-05-01): full ingredient list in descending order using standard Chinese names, ingredients at or below 0.1% grouped under 其他微量成分; efficacy claims must be substantiated under 化妆品功效宣称评价规范; no fragrance-allergen naming rule.
What changed recently in Mainland China cosmetic regulation?
2026-07-29 NMPA Announcement No. 70 (2026) introduced eight registration/filing optimisation measures, incl. wider animal-test exemptions, shared test reports for similar formulas and ingredient safety data kept on file instead of submitted.
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