China imposes stringent supervision over new cosmetic ingredients (NCI) and their pre-market approval. According to the Article 9 of the overriding Regulations concerning the Hygiene Supervision over Cosmetics 1989, before a new ingredient is used to make cosmetics, an application must be made to the relevant health department for approval. As a matter of fact, it is tough and time-consuming to apply for the approval of a NCI in China though the tests conducted on new ingredients are one-third of those for new chemicals required under "MEP Order 7" although there is no need to perform environmental exposure assessment.