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Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 25, 2024, and was updated on January 14, 2026, as per the latest developments. The updated contents are marked in red below.
Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC) serves as the overarching technical standard for the supervision and testing of cosmetics safety in China. It encompasses the following key contents:
Chapter 1: Explanations of technical terms and general safety standards;
Chapter 2 and 3: Prohibited/Restricted/Permitted ingredients used in cosmetics;
Chapter 4 to 8: Testing methods for physical and chemical, microbiological, toxicological, human body safety, and efficacy evaluation.
Since STSC’s promulgation on December 23, 2015 and implementation on December 1, 2016, it has undergone multiple revisions to align with the evolving industry. The revisions can be summarized as follows:
1. Chapter 1 Overview
Revision of the total bacterial count for eye cosmetics, lip cosmetics, and children's cosmetics and the limit for dioxane;
2. Chapter 2: Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients Used in Cosmetics
Addition of 34 prohibited ingredients;
Reclassification of 1 previously permitted sunscreen, 1 previously permitted hair dye, and 1 previously permitted preservative as prohibited ingredients;
Inclusion of the limits for benzene as an impurity in cosmetics when technically unavoidable;
Prohibition of 5 plant/animal ingredients as fragrance ingredients;
Amendment of names and CAS numbers of prohibited ingredients;
Classification and merging of prohibited drug ingredients.
3. Chapter 3: Permitted Ingredients Used in Cosmetics
Addition of 1 permitted preservative: Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCL;
Revision of the limits for 1 restricted ingredient, 3 preservatives, 3 sunscreens and 2 hair dyes.
4. Chapter 4: Physical and Chemical Testing Methods for Cosmetics
Addition of 2 testing methods for measuring pH value in water-in-oil cosmetics and toothpaste;
Addition of 25 testing methods for prohibited ingredients, heavy metals, preservatives, sunscreen, colorants, hair dyes, and other ingredients in cosmetics/toothpaste;
Revision of 27 testing methods for prohibited ingredients, restricted ingredients, preservatives, hair dyes, and other ingredients in cosmetics.
5. Chapter 5: Methods of Microbiological Test
Addition of 6 testing methods for detecting microorganisms in toothpaste.
6. Chapter 6: Methods of Toxicological Test
Addition of 33 toxicological testing methods and the General Rule for Pretreatment of Cosmetics in Toxicological Experiments;
Revision of 2 toxicological testing methods.
7. Chapter 7 Human Safety Testing Methods
Revision of 2 human safety testing methods.
8. Chapter 8: Human Body Efficacy Evaluation Testing Method
Addition of 2 efficacy evaluation testing methods.
#English Translations
Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (Consolidated Version)ChemLinked has compiled a consolidated English translation of the STSC, bringing together all official revisions issued between 2016 and 2026 into one complete, easy-to-reference document. The full English translation spans over 1,800 pages and is priced at USD 1,580. *Please note that this translation, provided by our affiliated company, is not included in ChemLinked paid membership benefits.Detailed Amendments to STSC from 2016 to 2026
Chapters in STSC | Revised/Added Items | Implementation Date | Introduction | Further Reading | |
Chapter 1 Overview | 3.3 Requirements on the Microbiological Indicators | Total bacterial count | January 1, 2027 | Total bacterial count for eye cosmetics, lip cosmetics, and children's cosmetics has been reduced from ≤500 CFU/g or CFU/ml to ≤100 CFU/g or CFU/ml. |
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3.4 Restriction on Hazardous Substances | Dioxane | The limit for dioxane has been reduced from ≤ 30 mg/kg to ≤ 10 mg/kg | |||
Chapter 2 Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients Used in Cosmetics | 1 Prohibited Ingredients Used in Cosmetics (Inventory 1) | May 28, 2021 | Based on the previous prohibited ingredients lists in STSC, NMPA released and implemented the amended Inventory of Prohibited Ingredients for Cosmetics. The main amendments include:
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Benvimod | August 28, 2023 | The Inventory of Prohibited Ingredients for Cosmetics newly includes "Benvimod" as a prohibited ingredient (No. 1285). |
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Benzene | A new note states that if benzene is technically unavoidable to be present in cosmetics as an impurity, its limit should not exceed 2mg/kg. | ||||
Bimatoprost; Latanoprost; Tafluprost; Tafluprost ethyl amide, (5Z)-7-{(1R,2R,3R,5S)-2-[(1E)-3,3-Difluoro-4-phenox y-1-buten-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxycyclopentyl}-N-ethyl-5- heptenamide; Travoprost | March 21, 2024 | The Inventory of Prohibited Ingredients for Cosmetics newly includes these five prostaglandin analogs as prohibited ingredients (No.1286, No.1287, No.1288, No.1289, No.1290). | |||
4-Methylbenzyl Camphor; 6-Amino-m-Cresol; Zinc Pyrithione |
| These three previously permitted sunscreen, hair dye and preservative ingredients have been reclassified as prohibited ingredients (No. 1291, No. 1292, and No. 1297). |
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Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its salts; Perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts; Butylphenyl Methylpropional; Cyclotetrasiloxane |
| The Inventory of Prohibited Ingredients for Cosmetics newly includes these 4 ingredients as prohibited ingredients (No. 1293, No. 1294, No. 1295, No. 1296, and No. 1297). | |||
2 Prohibited Plant (Animal) Ingredients Used in Cosmetics (Inventory 2) 1 General Principles | Inventory of Prohibited Plant (Animal) Ingredients for Cosmetics | May 28, 2021 | Based on the prohibited ingredients lists in STSC, China released and implemented the amended Inventory of Prohibited Plant (Animal) Ingredients for Cosmetics. The main amendments include:
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3 Restricted Ingredeints Used in Cosmetics (List 3) | Salicylic Acid | January 1, 2028 | The limit on Salicylic Acid has been adjusted. |
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Chapter 3 Permitted Ingredients Used in Cosmetics | 1 Permitted Preservatives Used in Cosmetics (Inventory 4) | Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCL | December 28, 2020 | China approved Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCL as a permitted preservative and included it in the Inventory of Permitted Cosmetic Preservatives. The maximum concentration is 0.4%. |
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Climbazole; Methylisothiazolinone; Polyaminopropyl Biguanide | January 1, 2028 | The limits on these ingredients have been adjusted. |
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2 Permitted Sunscreens Used in Cosmetics (List 5) | Benzophenone-3; Homosalate; Octocrylene | ||||
4 Permitted Hair Dyes Used in Cosmetics (List 7) | Toluene-2,5-diamine; Toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate | ||||
Chapter 4 Physical and Chemical Testing Methods for Cosmetics | 1 General Principles | July 1, 2026 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. |
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August 28, 2023 | China approved the testing method for pH value in water-in-oil cosmetics and newly added it to STSC. |
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December 1, 2024 | China approved these testing methods for toothpaste and newly added them to STSC. |
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1.16 Determination of Li and 42 Kinds of Elements in Toothpaste | March 1, 2026 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. | |||
| 1.17 Determination of Hard Particles in Toothpaste | China approved this testing method for toothpaste and newly added it to STSC. | ||||
| 1.6 Determination of Li and 42 Kinds of Elements in Cosmetics | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. | ||||
2 Testing Methods of Prohibited Ingredients | 2.14 Determination of Cantharidin and Chlormethine in Cosmetics | January 1, 2020 | China amended the contents of these cosmetic testing methods. | ||
March 1, 2024 |
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2.18 Determination of Desloratadine and Other 50 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | |||||
December 1, 2024 | |||||
2.23 Test Method of 23 Ingredients in Cosmetics including Procainamide | January 1, 2027 |
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| 2.27 Determination of Asbestos in Cosmetics | July 1, 2025 | ||||
2.28 Determination of Tretinoin and Other 7 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | May 1, 2021 | ||||
2.34 Test Method for 6α-Methylhydrocortisone and 124 Other Ingredients in Cosmetics | January 1, 2027 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. |
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2.35 Determination of Dimetridazole and Other 119 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | December 1, 2024 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. | |||
2.36 Determination of Ethyl Acrylate and Other 39 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | August 28, 2023 | China approved the testing method for 40 ingredients in cosmetics and newly added it to STSC. |
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December 1, 2024 | China approved these testing methods for toothpaste and newly added them to STSC. |
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| 2.39 Determination of Phenacetin in Cosmetics | July 1, 2025 | China approved the testing method for phenacetin in cosmetics and newly added them to STSC. | |||
| 2.40 Determination of Diethylene Glycol and Glycol in Toothpaste | March 1, 2026 | ||||
2.41 Test Method for Cannabidiol and Five Other Ingredients in Cosmetics | January 1, 2027 | China approved these testing methods for cosmetics and newly added them to STSC. |
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3 Testing Methods of Restricted Ingredients | 3.1 Determination of Glucuronic Acid and Other 13 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | July 1, 2025 | China amended the contents of these cosmetic testing methods. | ||
| 3.14 Determination of Hydroxycapric Acid in Cosmetics | July 1, 2025 | China approved this testing method for hydroxycapric acid in cosmetics and newly added it to STSC. | |||
| 3.15 Determination of Soluble/Free Fluoride in Toothpastes | March 1, 2026 | China approved these testing methods for toothpaste and newly added it to STSC. | |||
| 3.16 Determination of Total Fluoride in Toothpaste | |||||
December 1, 2024 | China amended the contents of these cosmetic testing methods. | ||||
May 1, 2021 | |||||
3.9 Determination of Thioglycollic Acid and Other 7 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | March 1, 2024 |
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4 Testing Methods of Preservatives | 4.1 Determination of Methylisothiazolinone and Other 22 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | May 1, 2021 | |||
4.2 Determination of Zinc Pyrithione and Other 18 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | |||||
4.3 Determination of Hexamidine diisethionate and Other 6 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | |||||
4.7 Determination of Formic Acid and Other 8 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | |||||
China amended the serial number of this cosmetic testing method. | |||||
March 1, 2024 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. |
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December 1, 2024 | China approved this testing method for toothpaste and newly added it to STSC. |
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5 Testing Methods of Sunscreens | 5 Determination of 3-benzylidene Camphor and Other 21 Kinds of Sunscreens in Cosmetics | July 11, 2019 | China approved these testing methods for cosmetics and newly added them to STSC. | ||
6 Testing Methods of Colorants | 6.3 Determination of CI 10020 and Other 10 Kinds of Components | August 28, 2023 |
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6.4 Determination of CI 11920 and Other 12 Kinds of Components | |||||
7 Testing Methods of Hair Dyes | 7.2 Determination of P-phenylenediamine and Other 31 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | May 1, 2021 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. | ||
August 28, 2023 | China approved these testing methods for cosmetics and newly added them to STSC. |
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8 Testing Methods of Other Ingredients | |||||
March 1, 2024 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. | ||||
8.3 Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate and Other 4 Kinds of Components in Cosmetics | August 28, 2023 | China approved these testing methods for cosmetics and newly added them to STSC. | |||
| 8.4 Determination of Azelaic Acid and its Salts in Cosmetics | July 1, 2025 | ||||
Chapter 5 Methods of Microbiological Test | 7 General Guidelines in Toothpaste | December 1, 2024 | China approved these testing methods for toothpaste and newly added them to STSC. |
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8 Aerobic Plate Count in Toothpaste | |||||
9 Detection of Thermotolerant Coliform Bacteria in Toothpaste | 9 Detection of Thermotolerant Coliform Bacteria in Toothpaste | ||||
10 Detection of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Toothpaste | |||||
11 Detection of Staphylococcus Aureus in Toothpaste | |||||
12 Molds and Yeasts Count in Toothpaste | |||||
Chapter 6 Methods of Toxicological Test | 8 Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay | January 1, 2020 | China amended the contents of these cosmetic testing methods. | ||
16 Teratogenicity Test | |||||
18 In-vitro 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test Method for Chemicals Used in Cosmetics | 18 In-vitro 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test Method for Chemicals Used in Cosmetics | December 1, 2016 | China approved these toxicological testing methods and newly added them to STSC. |
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19 In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Transcutaneous Electrical Resistance Test (TER) for Chemicals Used in Cosmetics | August 21, 2017 | ||||
20 Skin Photoallergy Test | |||||
21 Short Time Exposure In Vitro Test Method (STE) | January 1, 2020 | ||||
22 Skin Sensitization: Local Lymph Node Assay: DA (LLNA: DA) | |||||
23 Skin Sensitization: Local Lymph Node Assay: BrdU-ELISA (LLNA: BrdU-ELISA) | 23 Skin Sensitization: Local Lymph Node Assay: BrdU-ELISA (LLNA: BrdU-ELISA) | ||||
24 In Chemico Skin Sensitization: Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) | 24 In Chemico Skin Sensitization: Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) | ||||
25 In Vitro Mammalian Cells Micronucleus Test | March 2, 2021 | ||||
26 In Vitro Skin Sensitisation: Human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT) | 26 In Vitro Skin Sensitisation: Human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT) | August 28, 2023 |
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27 In Chemico Skin Sensitisation: Amino acid Derivative Reactivity Assay (ADRA) | 27 In Chemico Skin Sensitisation: Amino acid Derivative Reactivity Assay (ADRA) | ||||
28 Fluorescein Leakage In Vitro Test Method | |||||
29 Acute Oral Toxicity Test: Up-and Down Procedure | |||||
30 Acute Oral Toxicity Test: The Fixed-Dose Procedure | |||||
31 Acute Oral Toxicity Acute: Toxic Class Method | |||||
32 In Vivo Mammalian Alkaline Comet Assay | |||||
33 General Rule for Pretreatment of Cosmetic in Toxicological Experiments | 33 General Rule for Pretreatment of Cosmetic in Toxicological Experiments | December 1, 2024 | |||
34 Acute Inhalation Toxicity Study | |||||
35 Acute Inhalation Toxicity-Acute Toxic Class Method | |||||
36 Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Assay for Photoreactivity | |||||
37 U937 Cell Line Activation Test | |||||
38 Skin Absorption: in Vivo Method | |||||
39 Repeated Dose 28-Day Oral Toxicity Study | |||||
40 28-Day Inhalation Toxicity Study | |||||
41 90-Day Inhalation Toxicity Study | |||||
42 Extended One-Generation Reproductive Toxicity Study | |||||
43 Two-Generation Reproductive Toxicity Study | |||||
| 44 In Chemico Skin Sensitisation The ARE-Nrf2 Luciferase LuSens Test | 44 In Chemico Skin Sensitisation The ARE-Nrf2 Luciferase LuSens Test | March 1, 2026 | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. | ||
| 45 Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (BCOP) Assay | 45 Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (BCOP) Assay | China approved these toxicological testing methods and newly added them to STSC. | |||
| 46 In Chemico Skin Sensitisation: Kinetic Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (kDPRA) | 46 In Chemico Skin Sensitisation: Kinetic Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (kDPRA) | ||||
| 47 Skin Absorption: In Vitro Method | 47 Skin Absorption: In Vitro Method | ||||
| 48 Immunotoxicity Test | 48 Immunotoxicity Test | ||||
| 49 Oral Mucous Irritation Test | 49 Oral Mucous Irritation Test | ||||
50 Skin Sensitization Local Lymph Node Assay: BrdU-FCM | July 1, 2026 | China approved these testing methods for cosmetics and newly added them to STSC. |
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51 Toxicokinetic Test Method | |||||
Chapter 7 Human Safety Testing Method | 2 Human Skin Patch Test | China amended the contents of this cosmetic testing method. | |||
3 Cosmetic Safety In-Use Test | |||||
Chapter 8 Human Body Efficacy Evaluation Testing Method | 5 Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Skin Whitening Cosmetic Products | 5 Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Skin Whitening Cosmetic Products | March 2, 2021 | China approved these efficacy evaluation testing methods and newly added them to STSC. | |
6 Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Anti-hair Loss Cosmetic Products | 6 Test Method for Efficacy Measurement of Anti-hair Loss Cosmetic Products | ||||
Apart from the aforementioned amendments that have already come into effect or are soon to take effect, China has also issued a revised draft of STSC in 2022. Referred to as STSC 2022, this revision extensively modifies the original content while maintaining the fundamental framework of STSC 2015. The changes involve updating contents that are incompatible with current regulatory practices, retaining relevant and applicable sections, incorporating the above revisions made to STSC 2015, and enhancing the standardization and clarity of certain terms and expressions. For detailed information regarding the specific revisions, please refer to ChemLinked News.
ChemLinked has compiled a consolidated English translation of the STSC, integrating all official revisions issued between 2016 and 2026 into a single, comprehensive document for easy reference. The full translation contains over 1,800 pages and is available for USD 1,580. For companies interested in translations of specific chapters only, please contact ChemLinked for customized pricing.
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