China Cosmetics Regulatory Update 2026: Key NMPA Ingredient and Market Access Changes

Key Regulatory Updates

New Cosmetic Ingredient Rules

On June 26, 2026, NMPA released the new rules for new cosmetic ingredient registration and filing, replacing the 2021 requirements from July 15, 2026.

The update reduces the "higher-risk" function scope from ten categories to five:

• Preservation

• Sun protection

• Coloring

• Hair dyeing

• Freckle-removing and whitening

This may benefit ingredients used for functions such as anti-hair loss, anti-acne, anti-wrinkle, anti-dandruff or deodorizing. However, it is not an exemption from compliance review. Ingredient identity, safety, quality control, function and traceability remain essential.

NIFDC also issued the Technical General Principles for Dossiers of New Cosmetic Ingredient Registration and Filing, effective on the same date, further clarifying dossier requirements.

Toothpaste Ingredients and Claims Compliance

NMPA opened consultation on the draft mandatory national standard Specification for Toothpaste Ingredients, with comments accepted from June 4 to August 4, 2026. The draft aims to replace GB 22115-2008 and covers prohibited, restricted and permitted toothpaste ingredients.

Oral-care brands should review China-facing formulas early, especially preservatives, colorants and restricted ingredients.

SAMR also released the Enforcement Guidelines for Advertising Citation Content on June 3, 2026. Advertisers must ensure cited data, survey results, quotations and evidence are true, accurate, lawful and verifiable. Claims such as "clinically tested," "dermatologist recommended," "proven whitening effect" or "No. 1 in sales" should be supported by reliable evidence before use in China.

Environmental and Import Risks

MEE released a draft revision of the Measures for the Environmental Management Registration of New Chemical Substances on June 11, 2026. The draft removes product categories such as cosmetics, pesticides and food from the list of products not subject to the measures. Companies using novel ingredients should assess whether IECSC checks or new chemical substance registration may be relevant.

China Customs also reported 40 cosmetic products refused entry in May 2026 due to issues including non-compliant labels, non-compliant packaging, arsenic test failures and microbial limit failures.

What Global Companies Should Do

International companies should:

• Reassess new cosmetic ingredient classification under the updated NMPA rules;

• Prepare complete and traceable technical dossiers;

• Review toothpaste formulas against the draft ingredient standard;

• Localize claims and ensure evidence is verifiable;

• Check IECSC status for novel ingredients;

• Verify labels, packaging and testing reports before import.

How REACH24H Can Help

REACH24H supports global companies with China cosmetics compliance, including:

• New cosmetic ingredient registration and filing strategy;

• NMPA product registration and filing;

• Ingredient and formula compliance review;

• Technical dossier preparation;

• Toothpaste ingredient review;

• Claims and advertising compliance review;

• IECSC status checks;

• Import compliance risk assessment.