News Details

On 29July  2026 , China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has issued Announcement No. 70 of 2026, introducing a series of reforms to optimize cosmetics registration and filing procedures. The measures are designed to streamline regulatory requirements, encourage innovative cosmetic products to launch first in China, reduce unnecessary testing, simplify dossier preparation, and improve regulatory efficiency while maintaining product safety.

The latest reforms from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) introduce eight major optimization measures covering cosmetics and toothpaste registration and filing. Key changes include simplified requirements for first-launch products, expanded exemptions from toxicological testing, reduced administrative documentation for ingredient safety information, more flexible efficacy evaluation methods, streamlined management of similar formulations, and simplified procedures for manufacturing site and domestic responsible person changes. These measures aim to support innovation, reduce compliance costs, and promote the high-quality development of China's cosmetics industry.

China Introduces Eight Key Measures to Streamline Cosmetics Registration and Filing

The new regulatory framework focuses on improving administrative efficiency while maintaining product safety standards. The main updates include:

1. Encouraging Global Cosmetic Products to Launch First in China

• International cosmetic products launching first in China, or simultaneously in China and other countries or regions, are no longer required to submit proof of prior marketing in the country of origin.
• Applicants may instead provide a declaration confirming the product's first launch in China.
• Sales packaging from the manufacturing country or region may be submitted as design artwork during registration or filing.

2. Expanding Exemptions from Toxicological Testing

Certain products may be exempt from submitting toxicological test reports when appropriate manufacturing quality documentation and product safety risk assessments are available.

Eligible products include:

• Hair perm products
• Non-oxidative hair dyes
• Physical whitening and freckle-concealing products
• General cosmetics containing new cosmetic ingredients (excluding children's cosmetics)

The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) may further expand the scope of animal testing exemptions through future technical guidelines as scientific developments progress.

3. Simplifying Ingredient Safety Information Requirements

To reduce administrative burden:

• Ingredient safety information documents and ingredient submission codes are no longer required during registration or filing.
• Applicants only need to provide the ingredient manufacturer's name.
• Supporting documentation must be retained internally for future inspection.
• Ingredient submission codes will no longer be publicly disclosed.
• Quality specifications or inspection reports must still be provided where required by applicable technical standards.

4. Optimizing Technical Requirements for Similar Formula Products

For products under the same brand with similar formulation systems:

• A representative product may be selected to conduct microbiological, physicochemical, toxicological, and human safety testing.
• Other similar products may share the testing reports after scientific justification and equivalence evaluation.
• Where manufacturing sites differ, separate microbiological and physicochemical testing remains necessary.

This approach is expected to significantly reduce duplicate testing for product families.

5. Simplifying Registration Following Manufacturing Site Changes

When an already registered cosmetic product changes its manufacturing location—such as moving production between domestic and overseas facilities—existing toxicological testing, human safety assessments, safety evaluations, and efficacy evaluation reports may continue to be used provided that:

• The registrant remains unchanged.
• The product name remains unchanged.
• The formulation remains unchanged.
• Applicable standards have not materially changed.

New microbiological and physicochemical testing reports are still required.

6. Expanding Accepted Methods for Efficacy Claim Evaluation

Except for products claiming:

• Skin whitening and freckle removal
• Sunscreen protection
• Hair loss prevention

Applicants may now choose from multiple scientifically justified evaluation methods, including:

• Industry standards
• International standards
• Technical guidelines
• Validated in-house methods

This provides greater flexibility for supporting cosmetic efficacy claims.

7. Allowing Shared Efficacy Evaluation Data for Similar Formulations

For cosmetic products with similar formulation systems under the same brand:

• One representative product may undergo efficacy testing.
• Equivalent products may share efficacy evaluation data following scientific equivalence assessment.
• Companies must retain supporting documentation for regulatory inspection.
• Products with whitening, sunscreen, or hair-loss prevention claims must continue submitting efficacy evaluation data during registration.

8. Simplifying Changes to the Domestic Responsible Person

When changing the domestic responsible person, applicants are no longer required to submit:

• Consent letters from the previous domestic responsible person.
• Court judgments proving the effectiveness of the change.

Instead, applicants only need to provide:

• A notarized authorization letter for the new domestic responsible person.
• A list of affected products.
• A commitment confirming that the new domestic responsible person assumes all regulatory responsibilities for the products.

Impact on Cosmetic Companies

The new measures are expected to provide significant regulatory benefits for both domestic and international cosmetic companies by:

• Reducing administrative documentation requirements.
• Lowering testing costs through broader data-sharing opportunities.
• Supporting simultaneous global product launches.
• Increasing flexibility in efficacy claim substantiation.
• Simplifying post-approval changes.
• Improving regulatory efficiency without compromising product safety.

These reforms also reinforce China's ongoing efforts to modernize cosmetics regulation and create a more innovation-friendly regulatory environment while ensuring effective product oversight.

Effective Date

The new measures take effect immediately upon publication. Any previous regulatory requirements issued by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) that are inconsistent with Announcement No. 70 of 2026 are superseded by this announcement.