Cosmetic products in China are divided into two categories: non-special use cosmetics (non-SUC) and special use cosmetics (SUC). Non-SUC refer to skin care products; hair care products; nail (toe) care products; make-up and fragrance while SUC refer to whitening products, hair growth products hair dyes, hair perming products, depilating products, breast beauty products, slimming products, deodorants, freckle-removing products and sunscreens. Before being used, marketed or imported into China, all cosmetic products must get approval from the CFDA or provincial FDAs, but the requirements for getting approval differ not only between the categories but also between imports and domestics.

Compared with the non-SUC, SUC meet far stricter requirements for marketing, both domestic and overseas cosmetic companies are required to register with the CFDA and submit relevant documents. The registration for SUC is also more costly and time-consuming. Without administrative licenses SUC are prohibited to place in the market.

In the procedures of filing or registration, a lot of documents need to submit for cosmetic companies, among which include testing reports and label information. Generally, testing items are divided into microbiological, hygienic chemical, toxicological testing and human safety items. Animal testing, one of the toxicological testing, is needed for domestic SUC, imported non-SUC and imported SUC but domestic non-SUC can be exempted from it if they can be proved to be safe by safety assessment. Furthermore, Cosmetics labels are subject to review by CFDA expert panel during registration and also checked by CIQs when products arrive at port.

China divides cosmetic ingredients into new cosmetic ingredient and existing cosmetic ingredient. Ingredients excluded from the IECIC are new cosmetic ingredients, which need approval by CFDA prior to use in cosmetic products. The registration procedure of new cosmetic ingredients is similar to that of special-use cosmetics. Cosmetic company who wants to utilize a new approved ingredient is subject to separate registration. After getting a “new cosmetic ingredient trial use certificate”, the company can use the ingredient for 4 years. If no adverse events are observed during the 4 years, the ingredient will be listed into IECIC allowing all cosmetics companies to freely utilize the substance.