CHINA COSMETIC INGREDIENT REGISTRATION
China registered methoxypropylamino cyclohexenylidene ethoxyethylcyanoacetate, known as Mexoryl 400 or MCE, as a new cosmetic ingredient on October 29, 2026. The NMPA record identifies its purpose as a sunscreen agent; the detailed technical requirements should be reviewed in the linked record before confirming China-specific use conditions.
China Registers MCE as a New Cosmetic Ingredient
China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) registered methoxypropylamino cyclohexenylidene ethoxyethylcyanoacetate as a new cosmetic ingredient on October 29, 2026. The ingredient, known in the sunscreen sector as Mexoryl 400 or MCE, was assigned registration number 20260001 (国妆原注字20260001).
Three La Roche-Posay sunscreen products also received registration certificates on October 29: Special Care Lightweight Extra Protection Sunscreen Lotion (理肤泉特护轻盈倍护防晒乳), Special Care Lightweight Oil-Control Sunscreen Lotion (理肤泉特护轻盈控油防晒乳), and Special Care Lightweight Sunscreen Lotion (理肤泉特护轻盈防晒乳).
A Sunscreen Filter Developed by L’Oréal and BASF
MCE is a UV filter developed through collaboration between L’Oréal and BASF. L’Oréal identifies Mexoryl 400 as the filter powering its UVMune 400 technology, which targets ultra-long UVA wavelengths. The technology first appeared in La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios range, launched overseas in March 2022. Related L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal products have also used the ingredient. L’Oréal’s announcement describes the UVMune 400 launch.
Previously Listed in China’s Innovation Guidance Process
On October 20, 2025, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) published a list of 16 candidate ingredients for its first new cosmetic ingredient innovation guidance cohort. MCE was listed as item 7, with “sunscreen agent” as its stated purpose and BASF’s European entity as the registrant or filing person. The NIFDC notice states that selection for innovation guidance does not constitute recognition of an ingredient’s quality or safety; applicants must still complete the applicable registration or filing process.
EU Use Conditions Offer a Separate Regulatory Reference
In the EU, MCE was added to Annex VI of the Cosmetics Regulation as entry 32 through Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1684. The amendment was adopted on November 12, 2020, and entered into force on December 3, 2020. The EU conditions include:
| EU condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Maximum concentration | 3% in the ready-for-use preparation |
| Inhalation exposure | Not to be used in applications that may expose the end user’s lungs by inhalation |
| Nitrosating agents | Do not use with nitrosating agents; maximum nitrosamine content is 50 μg/kg |
| Storage | Keep in nitrite-free containers |
The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) concluded that MCE is safe as a UV filter in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 3%, based on the data submitted. The SCCS did not assess inhalation toxicity and stated that its opinion does not apply to sprayable products that could expose consumers’ lungs. Its opinion reported a margin of safety of 122 for use at 3%. See the SCCS Opinion SCCS/1605/19.
These EU conditions are not the terms of MCE’s Chinese registration. The NMPA database record shown above identifies MCE’s purpose as a sunscreen agent and provides a link to its technical requirements; those requirements must be reviewed to establish the specific authorized uses and restrictions in China. For background on China’s registration and filing routes, see REACH24H’s China new cosmetic ingredient registration and filing services.
