On August 28, 2023, the National Medical Products Administration made significant updates to theCosmetics & Personal CareSafety and Technical Standards (2015 Edition), including additions and revisions to multiple testing methods, as well as the inclusion of new prohibited ingredients. This is a major change that will affect not only cosmetic manufacturers but also consumers.

New testing methods effective immediately:Includes 14 items such as Method for Determination of pH Value in Water-in-Oil Cosmetics and Testing Methods for 11 Ingredients Including Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate in Cosmetics.
Revised testing methods effective March 1, 2024:5 revised testing methods, such as Testing Method for Acrylamide in Cosmetics and Testing Method for Free Formaldehyde in Cosmetics.
Implementation timeline:Testing methods effective immediately will be implemented upon issuance, while revised testing methods will take effect on March 1, 2024.

New prohibited ingredient Benvitimod:This ingredient will be added to Table 1 of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients as entry No. 1285.
Management limit for benzene:The new regulation sets the benzene limit to not exceed 2 mg/kg as the maximum restriction when introduced as an impurity in cosmetics.

Impact on Manufacturers:All cosmetic registration, filing, and sampling inspections shall adopt the testing methods issued in this notice.
Impact on consumers:The newly added and revised regulations will further enhance the safety and quality of cosmetics.
Implementation Date:All newly added and revised regulations shall take effect from the date of issuance orMarch 1, 2024onwards.