On April 30, 2024, the National Institutes of Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) published two essential guidelines for the identification and assessment techniques of risk substances in cosmetics. These two guidelines are summarized below in two scenarios.

Scenario one

First group

• Special cosmetics, baby & child cosmetics, cosmetics containing new ingredients within the safety monitoring period.

Second group

• Products containing nanomaterials.

• Non-sunscreen cosmetics using sunscreens not listed in the "Cosmetic Safety Technical Specifications".

• Products claiming efficacy in acne treatment, anti-wrinkle (excluding physical anti-wrinkle), deodorizing, dandruff removal, hair removal or exfoliation (excluding physical exfoliation).

• Product forms that include patches, films, containing substrates (patches, films, substrates containing active ingredients or dyes, etc.), or aerosols.

• Products that require the use of instruments or tools (excluding brushes, cushions, hair styling tools used only for auxiliary application, etc.

Scenario two

All other ordinary cosmetics from the second group, but not included in scenario one.

These two guidelines are applicable to registrants and filing applicants to identify and evaluate the possible risk substances in cosmetics.

For more information on compliance with China’s cosmetic regulation, please contact GPC Regulator Executive:  [email protected] or [email protected]