China: New regulations for cosmetics safety and labelling 

 

China has published two new versions of GB standards for cosmetics:

• National Standard of the P.R.C., General requirements for cosmetic safety (GB7916-202X) 
• National Standard of the P.R.C., Instructions for use of consumer interest-Part  3: General labelling for cosmetics (GB 5296.3—202X) 

 They replace the previous versions of the GB standards. 

 The first one specifies the general requirements, raw material requirements, and product requirements for cosmetics. It applies to cosmetics produced and sold within the territory of the People’s Republic of China. Comparing to the previous version, in introduces the following changes: 

—The document name has been changed; 

—The General Provisions have been deleted (see Chapter 1 of the 1987 edition); 

—The scope has been expanded (see Chapter 1); 

—Normative references have been added (see Chapter 2); 

—Terms and definitions for “cosmetics,” “cosmetic ingredients,” “prohibited substances,” “restricted substances,” “preservatives,” “sunscreens,” “colorants,” “hair dyes,” “packaging materials,” “cosmetic labeling,” and “children’s cosmetics” have been added (see Chapter 3); 

—The “Requirements” (see 4, 2 of the 1987 edition) have been changed to include “General Requirements,” “Ingredient Requirements,” and “Product Requirements” (see 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 3.2 of the 1987 edition); 

—Requirements for actors’ cosmetics have been deleted (see 2.6 of the 1987 edition). —The testing methods have been changed (see Chapter 5, 3.1 of the 1987 edition) 

—The requirements for packaging materials and labeling have been changed (see Chapters 6 and 7, 2.4 and 2.5 of the 1987 edition); 

—Storage and transportation requirements have been added (see Chapter 8); 

—The hygiene inspection and supervision of cosmetics has been deleted (see 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 of the 1987 edition); 

—The “List of Prohibited Substances in Cosmetics” and the “List of Prohibited Plant (Animal) Substances in Cosmetics” have been changed (see Appendices A and B, Table 2 of the 1987 edition); 

—The “Restricted Substances in Cosmetic Components,” “Restricted Preservatives in Cosmetic Components,” “Restricted Ultraviolet Absorbers in Cosmetic Components,” and “Temporary Colorants in Cosmetic Components” have been deleted (see Tables 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the 1987 edition). 

The second one specifies the form, basic principles, labeling content, and requirements for cosmetic sales packaging labels. It applies to cosmetics sold within the territory of the People’s Republic of China, including cosmetics offered to consumers through free trials, gifts, or redemptions. 

To find out more about compliance for cosmetics worldwide and in China, do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute directly.