China Macao Cosmetic Regulation

Macao S.A.R. is an international free trade port in China. With a separate customs territory, Macao has close international economic ties with the European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries due to historical reasons.

Similar to Hong Kong, Macao regulates cosmetics quite loosely. There are no specific regulations or standards related to cosmetics in Macao. Imported cosmetics are merely subject to a simple declaration. Nevertheless, as the cosmetics sold in Macao can be deemed as consumer goods, enterprises intending to conduct cosmetic business in Macao are suggested to follow the requirements in the Law No.9/2021 on Protection of the Rights and Interests of Consumers, as well as the safety and labeling requirements for consumer goods.

Part 1 Regulatory Framework and Competent Authority

1.1 General Regulations Related to Consumer Goods, Including Cosmetic, in Macao

1.2 Competent Authority of Cosmetics

The Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) is responsible for establishing, modifying, and replacing the formats of licenses and declarations. DSEDT also supervises product safety compliance with the regulations in Administrative Regulation No. 17/2008 on the Establishment of the General System for Product Safety. The Chief Executive of DSEDT can issue directives to prohibit the production, importation, or supply of dangerous products, as well as to ban hazardous product marketing, order the recall, or discard harmful products.

The Macao Customs is responsible for verifying declaration forms and inspecting goods. 

Part 2 Import

Enterprises engaging in import and export activities in Macao should apply for a license from the relevant authorities or submit a declaration to Macao Customs in paper or electronic form. In accordance with the Law No. 7/2003 on Foreign Trade, cosmetics are subject to declaration.

The license application form and declaration should be filled out in Chinese, Portuguese, or English, except for technical names or other names that more clearly identify the goods or products in original language. The main content to be filled includes: the name and address of the enterprise; the name and address of the consignor or consignee; the trademark, number, quantity, and packaging method of the goods; as well as the name and business tax registration number of the carrier.

Macao Customs in receipt of the declaration should verify the declaration and return it to the enterprises. The confirmed declaration is necessary for the enterprise for following-up business activities. The validity period of the declaration is ten working days from the date of confirmation by Customs. 

Part 3 General Requirement for Cosmetic Products

As mentioned at the beginning, no specific cosmetic regulations or standards are published in Macau. Nevertheless, enterprises intending to conduct cosmetic business in Macau are suggested to follow the product safety and labeling requirements for consumer goods. 

3.1 Product Safety Requirements

Following the Administrative Regulation No. 17/2008, “product” refers to “all articles which, after manufacture or processing, are supplied or made available to the ultimate consumer, whether for compensation or not”. Administrative Regulation No. 17/2008 sets forth the following product safety requirements:

1. A product shall be considered safe if, under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, it does not pose any danger, or only poses a minimal risk that is acceptable and compatible with the product’s intended use. Such risk must be assessed according to strict standards for protecting consumer health and safety. In particular, the following factors shall be taken into account:

(a) The characteristics of the product, especially its composition;

(b) The foreseeable use of the product in conjunction with other products, and the resulting effects;

(c) The product’s appearance, packaging, labeling, instructions for use, assembly, storage, and disposal (if applicable), as well as any other instructions or information provided by the manufacturer;

(d) The categories of consumers who may be particularly vulnerable to risks, especially children.

2. A product shall also be deemed safe if it is accompanied by a written document issued by a testing institution certifying that the product has been tested and complies with safety standards.

Products that do not comply with the above provisions shall be deemed hazardous. Such products are prohibited from being manufactured, imported, distributed, or placed on the market, and may be subject to withdrawal from the market or destruction.

In addition to the general obligation to ensure product safety, enterprises must fulfill the following responsibilities:

Manufacturers/Importers’ Obligations

(a) If the use of a product presents inherent dangers that are not immediately apparent without proper warnings, manufacturers must provide all essential safety information in Chinese or Portuguese, enabling consumers to assess and avoid such risks. The safety information must be provided in writing and affixed to the product;

(b) Take appropriate measures to inform consumers of potential hazards associated with the product, based on its characteristics;

(c) Implement necessary actions to mitigate risks, including, where appropriate, the withdrawal of the product from the market;

(d) Submit product samples for safety testing upon request by the competent authority.

2. Where applicable, the actions mentioned in points (b) and (c) may include:

(a) Marking the product or its batch for identification purposes;

(b) Conducting sample testing;

(c) Analyzing customer complaints;

(d) Notifying distributors of relevant control measures and their outcomes.

Distributors’ Obligations

Distributors are required to:

(a) Cease the distribution of products they know, or should reasonably know based on their professional knowledge or available information, to be unsafe;

(b) Within the scope of their distribution activities, monitor the safety of products already on the market and, in particular, provide consumers with all relevant hazard-related information;

(c) Take or assist in appropriate actions to eliminate product risks, including withdrawing hazardous products from the market;

(d) Submit product samples for safety testing upon request by the competent authority.

3.2 Labeling

There are also no specific requirements for labeling, such as required information on labels or prohibited/allowed claims.

Only the Law No.9/2021 on Protection of the Rights and Interests of Consumers mentions several sentences regarding labeling, which are as follows:

1. If a product requires special care, instructions, specific procedures, or particular methods for use, handling, or consumption, it must be accompanied by instructions or a user manual in Chinese and Portuguese, or Chinese and English, prior to being placed on the market.

2. For imported products, the importer is responsible for providing the corresponding instructions or user manual in Chinese and Portuguese, or Chinese and English. The content must be no less detailed than that provided in the country of origin.

3.3 Advertisements

As per the Law No.7/89/M on Establishment of the System of Advertising Activities, advertising information should be legal, recognizable, truthful, and comply with the principles of consumer protection and loyalty to free and fair competition.

All advertisements that mislead or influence the audience through techniques, subconscious methods, or deceptive tactics, to prevent them from understanding the true nature of the information being conveyed, are prohibited. The following types of advertisements are explicitly banned:

a. Those with hidden, indirect, or deceptive qualities;

b. Those that exploit the audience's fears, ignorance, or superstitions;

c. Those that incite or encourage violence or illegal activities;

d. Those that disrespect national or religious symbols;

e. Those that use tools containing sexual or obscene content;

f. Those that mislead about the quality of the promoted goods or services;

g. Those that encourage dangerous use of the promoted items;

h. Those that fail to mention necessary precautions to avoid accidents when handling or using such items.

3.4 Ingredients Requiring Special Attention

Macao does not maintain an official list of prohibited or restricted ingredients for cosmetics. However, certain ingredients are subject to specific regulatory requirements. If a cosmetic product contains any of these ingredients, it must comply with the applicable provisions.

3.4.1 Endangered Species

The Law No.2/2017 Implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora serves as the local legislation enforcing CITES in Macau. It requires an import certificate issued by the management authority of the Macao S.A.R., as well as an export or re-export certificate issued by the management authority of the exporting or re-exporting country, or a certificate of origin issued by the exporting country’s management authority. These certificates are mandatory for the import of any scheduled endangered species, whether alive, dead, or in the form of parts or derivatives.

For the list of endangered species, please refer to Appendix I, Appendix II or Appendix III of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

3.4.2 Persistent Organic Pollutants

Under the Chief Executive's Decision No. 168/2024 on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),

• The import, export, and transit of chemical substances listed in Table 1 of the Decision, which are covered under the Stockholm Convention, are prohibited. Exceptions apply only to substances intended for laboratory research or use as reference standards;

• The import, export, and transit of goods listed in Table 2 of the Decision are also prohibited.

3.4.3 Asbestos

Under Chief Executive’s Decision No. 48/2019 on the Regulation of the Import and Transit of Asbestos and Asbestos Products:

1) The import and transit of goods listed in the annex to Chief Executive’s Decision No. 48/2019 into the Macao Special Administrative Region are prohibited.

2) Goods listed under items 1 to 7 of the annex, when intended for use in laboratory research or as reference standards, are exempt from this prohibition.

3) Goods listed under items 8 to 14 of the annex are also exempt from the prohibition, provided that the following conditions are met. These goods primarily consist of mixtures in which asbestos and related substances are the main ingredients, or products made from such mixtures or asbestos:

• No asbestos-free substitutes are available;

• The inability to import these goods would cause serious disruption to public services, pose significant safety risks, or endanger human life.

3.4.4 Fluoride Compounds

According to Decree No. 62/95/M on Measures to Control and Reduce the Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances, the import and export of goods containing fluoride compounds (including refrigerants) require prior authorization from the DSEDT.

3.4.5 Mercury

On June 16, 2025, Macao issued Chief Executive's Order No. 109/2025, prohibiting the import, export, and transshipment of 14 mercury-added products identified in the Minamata Convention on Mercury and its related amendments. The ban covers mercury-added cosmetics such as skin-lightening soaps and creams.

Exemptions are allowed for eye cosmetics that contain mercury as a preservative when no safe and effective alternatives are available, as well as for mercury-added products used for research, instrument calibration, or as reference standards.

The order will come into effect on January 1, 2026.