{"id":19523,"date":"2026-01-22T12:05:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T11:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/?post_type=encyclopedia&#038;p=19523"},"modified":"2026-01-22T12:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T11:05:17","slug":"cosmetics-registration-in-china","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/cosmetics-registration-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmetics registration in China"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cosmetics registration in China \u2013 an overview of requirements and processes<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the new cosmetics regulation came into force (May 2021), companies wishing to sell cosmetic products on the Chinese market must meet numerous new requirements.<\/p>\n<h3>What counts as a cosmetic?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under Chinese law, cosmetics are chemically manufactured products for daily use that are applied to the skin, hair, lips, nails, or other body surfaces for cleansing, care, protection, or beautification.<\/p>\n<h3>Classification: General vs. special cosmetic products<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For registration purposes, a distinction is made between\u00a0<strong>general cosmetics<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>specific cosmetics<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li><strong>General cosmetics:<\/strong>\u00a0Skin, hair, and nail care, makeup, perfumes \u2013 only require registration before market launch (filing).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special cosmetics:<\/strong>\u00a0Products with active ingredients such as whitening, sun protection, anti-hair loss, hair coloring, perming, or anti-pigmentation \u2013 require official approval before market launch (registration).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For products such as depilatories, deodorants, bust care, slimming products, or hair growth products, a transition period applies until the end of 2025.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cosmetics registration process in China<\/h2>\n<h3>Step 1: Authorized representative and account opening<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign companies must appoint a\u00a0<strong>responsible person based in China<\/strong>\u00a0to carry out the registration. The account is then opened on the registration portal of the\u00a0<strong>NMPA<\/strong>\u00a0(National Medical Products Administration):<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udc49\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/zwfw.nmpa.gov.cn\/web\/index\">https:\/\/zwfw.nmpa.gov.cn\/web\/index<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Step 2: Preparation of documents<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following information is required:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Product details: name, formulation, application, effect, target group, body area<\/li>\n<li>Labeling, dosage, samples<\/li>\n<li>Manufacturer and supplier information, quality management system, possibly licensed manufacturers<\/li>\n<li>Information on adverse reactions &amp; proof of an evaluation system<\/li>\n<li>GMP\/ISO\/QMS certificates<\/li>\n<li>Safety assessments, formulations with percentages, manufacturing processes<\/li>\n<li>Raw material specifications, MSDS for critical ingredients<\/li>\n<li>Certificate for free sale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Processing time:<\/strong>\u00a0approx. 30 days<\/p>\n<h3>Step 3: Review by the authorities<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After submission of the documents, the dossier is reviewed by the NMPA. If rejected, corrections are required. Once approved, the registration of the import and sale can be announced.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional documents may be requested during a second review. If approval is granted, the NMPA issues the electronic registration form and import and sales approval.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Time frame<\/h2>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li><strong>General cosmetics:<\/strong>\u00a03\u20134 months<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special cosmetics:<\/strong>\u00a03\u20136 months for each review phase; additional technical review by the NMPA required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>New requirements for cosmetics registration in China<\/h3>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li><strong>From January 2021:<\/strong>Proof of a functioning quality management system<\/li>\n<li><strong>From May 2021:<\/strong>List of all ingredients, including manufacturer, supplier, trade name<\/li>\n<li><strong>From January 2022:<\/strong>Safety data for functional raw materials<\/li>\n<li><strong>From January 2023:<\/strong>\u00a0Safety data for all ingredients<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition,\u00a0<strong>proof of efficacy<\/strong>\u00a0must be published on the NMPA&#8217;s online platform \u2013 depending on the product group, this may include literature, studies, clinical tests, or consumer tests.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Animal-free cosmetics<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since May 1, 2021,\u00a0<strong>general cosmetics without animal testing<\/strong>\u00a0may be sold in China through regular channels \u2013 not only via online platforms, but also in brick-and-mortar stores.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parties involved<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The applicant is usually the\u00a0<strong>brand owner<\/strong>. They:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>produce themselves or commission other manufacturers<\/li>\n<li>are responsible for quality, safety, and efficacy<\/li>\n<li>implement a quality management system<\/li>\n<li>document and evaluate adverse effects<\/li>\n<li>appoint a qualified specialist with at least five years of professional experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Responsible person in China<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This person takes care of the registration on behalf of the foreign applicant \u2013 this could be the importer, distributor, or an agency, for example. Their tasks include:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Registering products and new raw materials<\/li>\n<li>Monitoring safety aspects, recalls, and adverse reactions<\/li>\n<li>Communicating with Chinese authorities<\/li>\n<li>Provisional responsibility for product safety in China<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handling confidential information<\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cosmetics registration requires the disclosure of sensitive data such as:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<li>Percentage formulations<\/li>\n<li>Manufacturing processes<\/li>\n<li>Raw material suppliers and specifications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This information is passed on to the designated person in China \u2013 a relationship of trust is therefore essential.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Instead of appointing a distributor, it may make more sense to work with a branch of a German company in China. This offers long-term stability and provides support with registration, product recalls, and the annual report to the NMPA.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Cosmacon GmbH<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/contact\/enquiry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">develops\u00a0<\/a>cosmetic products for you that are not only effective and brand-compatible, but also take regulatory requirements \u2013 such as registration in China \u2013 into account from the outset. Take advantage of our expertise for efficient, targeted product development in international markets.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>When products are needed quickly:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ms-outlook-mobile-reference-message skipProofing\" dir=\"ltr\">\u2728 Our partner<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tojocosmetics.de\/en\/produkte\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Tojo Cosmetics<\/a> offers innovative, active ingredient-rich private label products \u2013 quickly available, high quality and perfect for brands that want to impress with passion and quality.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 Cosmetics registration in China \u2013 an overview of requirements and processes Since the new cosmetics regulation came into force (May 2021), companies wishing to sell cosmetic products on the Chinese market must meet numerous new requirements. What counts as a cosmetic? Under Chinese law, cosmetics are chemically manufactured products for daily use that are&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19524,"template":"","class_list":["post-19523","encyclopedia","type-encyclopedia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cosmetic Registration in China \u2013 Key Steps &amp; Insights<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to register cosmetic products in China: classification, requirements, process, timelines, and what matters for compliant product development.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/cosmetics-registration-in-china\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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