China Cosmetics Regulatory Update: July 2026 NMPA Changes

Key Changes to Cosmetic Registration and Notification

NMPA Announcement No. 70 of 2026 covers several measures relevant to overseas manufacturers, brand owners and exporters:

• China-first launches: Facilitating the first launch of international cosmetic products in China;

• Conditional testing-report exemptions: Exempting eligible products from submitting product toxicological test reports under specified conditions;

• Company-held ingredient records: Allowing certain ingredient safety information to be retained on file for regulatory inspection;

• Similar-formula data sharing: Permitting qualifying products with similar formulation systems to share certain safety and efficacy claim evaluation materials;

• Manufacturing-site changes: Simplifying materials for products transferred between manufacturing sites in different countries or regions;

• Efficacy evaluation methods: Expanding the acceptance of efficacy claim evaluation methods; and

• Domestic Responsible Person changes: Simplifying materials for changes to the domestic responsible person.

These measures do not create automatic exemptions. Registrants and notifiers must confirm that their products meet the applicable conditions and retain sufficient evidence to support the selected compliance pathway.

Where ingredient safety information is retained on file, companies should ensure that it remains complete, accurate, traceable and consistent with the product formula and safety assessment.

New Cosmetic Ingredient Requirements

The revised Provisions on the Registration, Filing and Dossier Management of New Cosmetic Ingredients, issued under NMPA Announcement No. 59, took effect on July 15, 2026.

Registration and Notification Pathways

Under the revised framework, new cosmetic ingredients with higher safety risks remain subject to registration when intended for:

• Preservation;

• Sun protection;

• Coloring;

• Hair dyeing; or

• Freckle-removing and whitening.

Other new cosmetic ingredients may generally follow the notification pathway, subject to applicable requirements. Companies should conduct a case-specific assessment before selecting a new cosmetic ingredient registration or notification pathway.

Data Use and Technical Verification

The revised framework also encourages the use of existing safety data and non-animal alternative methods. During July, 18 new cosmetic ingredients completed notification in China.

Completion of notification does not constitute regulatory approval or confirmation of safety. Authorities may conduct technical verification and require additional or corrected information.

Where a required study cannot be completed within the correction period for objective reasons, the notifier must still respond within the prescribed deadline and provide an explanation, supporting evidence, research plan, current progress and expected completion date.

Impact and Recommended Actions

The reforms may reduce duplicate testing and dossier preparation, particularly for international product launches and product portfolios with similar formulations. However, they also increase companies' responsibility for internal records and ongoing compliance.

Global companies should:

• Reassess eligibility for reduced testing or simplified documentation;

• Identify products that may share safety or efficacy evaluation materials;

• Strengthen ingredient safety information management;

• Review new ingredient projects against the revised five-function registration scope;

• Monitor technical verification comments and respond on time; and

• Confirm consistency among formulas, labels, safety assessments, testing results and registration records.

Recent provincial enforcement involving microbial failures, restricted ingredients, labeling discrepancies and missing annual reports also shows that China continues to strengthen post-market supervision.

How REACH24H Can Help

REACH24H assists international cosmetic companies with:

• China cosmetic registration and notification;

• Animal testing requirement assessments;

• New cosmetic ingredient registration and notification;

• Ingredient safety information management;

• Product safety assessment and efficacy claim evaluation;

• Chinese labeling compliance; and

• Post-market compliance and annual reporting.

Recommended Reading

• China Cosmetic Registration Update: NMPA Rule Changes

• Global Cosmetics Regulatory Update 2026: Key Changes in July

• China Cosmetics Regulatory Update: August 2026

Official References

• NMPA Announcement No. 70 of 2026: Cosmetic Registration and Filing (Chinese)

• NMPA Announcement No. 59 of 2026: New Cosmetic Ingredient Provisions (Chinese)

• Hunan Provincial Government: Official Republication of Announcement No. 59 (Chinese)

• Beijing Cosmetic Review and Inspection Center: New Ingredient Regulatory Q&A (Chinese)