On March 31, 2026, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China issued an Announcement on Matters Related to Cosmetic Registration and Submission (Draft for Public Consultation).
The key highlights are as follows:
1) Encouraging first launch of new cosmetic products in China
To promote the “first launch economy” in China’s cosmetics sector, overseas new cosmetic products that are first launched in China, or simultaneously launched in China and other countries, may be exempted from submitting proof of prior marketing in the country of origin. Applicants are instead required to provide a statement explaining the innovation of the product formulation and manufacturing process, along with a commitment confirming the first launch in China.
2) Exemption from submission of animal testing data
For certain special cosmetics—such as perm products, non-oxidative hair dyes, and whitening/freckle-removing products with only physical covering effects—as well as general cosmetics (and the aforementioned special cosmetics) using new ingredients still under a safety monitoring period, toxicological test reports may be exempted. This applies where the manufacturer holds valid quality management system certification issued by the competent authority of the country of origin, and where product safety has been sufficiently demonstrated through safety assessment.
3) Submission of safety technical data for similar products
When registering or filing multiple cosmetic products (including toothpaste) under the same brand, applicants may select one representative product to conduct microbiological and physicochemical tests, toxicological studies, human safety tests, and safety assessments, and submit the corresponding reports.
Other products may rely on these shared data, provided that a similarity justification of the full formulation is submitted, along with safety assessments for any differing colorants or fragrance components, and confirmation of the scientific validity and rationale for data sharing.
4) Expansion of accepted methods for efficacy claim evaluation
For cosmetic claims other than whitening, sun protection, and anti-hair loss, applicants may choose from national standards, technical standards, industry standards, international standards, technical guidelines, or validated in-house methods to conduct efficacy evaluations, provided there is sufficient scientific evidence.
5) Simplification of documentation for change of domestic responsible person
When changing the domestic responsible person for cosmetics (including toothpaste), it is no longer required to submit a consent letter from the previous responsible person or legal documents proving the effectiveness of the change. Only the following documents are required:
- A list of products subject to the change
- A commitment letter stating that the new responsible person will assume all responsibilities of the previous responsible person
Please refer to the attached document below.
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