On May 29, 2026, China’s NMPA announced amendments to the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, adding four new testing methods and revising four existing ones, effective March 1, 2027.

On May 22, 2026, China’s National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released a notice publishing corrigendum information for the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, mainly revising textual errors in “Chapter 4 Physical and Chemical Testing Methods for Cosmetics” and requiring the updated testing methods to be implemented accordingly.

On May 15, 2026, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced that three revised cosmetic standards covering Mercury and its compounds, Biphenyl-2-ol and its salts, and Acid Violet 43 were incorporated into the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC), updating ingredient restrictions, labeling requirements, and use limits for the cosmetics industry.

On April 30, 2026, China NIFDC issued two draft cosmetic testing methods for public consultation, introducing updated human trial approaches for substantiating the efficacy claims of skin whitening and anti-hair loss products. Stakeholders may submit their feedback by June 5, 2026.

This article summarizes all revisions related to testing methods introduced in the STSC since its publication.

This article summarizes all revisions related to ingredient limits introduced in Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC) since its publication.

On February 6, 2026, China’s National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) launched a public consultation on six draft testing methods for cosmetics, inviting comments through March 22, 2026 via its online standards management system.

On January 12, 2026, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released announcements incorporating 27 new and revised cosmetic safety standards, ingredient restrictions, and test methods into the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC), tightening microbial limits, prohibited ingredients, and toxicological and human safety testing requirements.

On November 17, 2025, China’s NIFDC released three draft cosmetic standards for public consultation, proposing stricter rules on mercury compounds, biphenyl-2-ol, and Acid Violet 43, with feedback due by December 12, 2025.

On October 14, 2025, the China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) issued a public consultation on six draft cosmetic standards, aiming to enhance the safety and regulatory framework for cosmetic products.

On September 15, 2025, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released 18 draft cosmetic standards, aiming to enhance technical standards in the cosmetics industry.

On August 29, 2025, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced amendments to the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition) (STSC), introducing 5 new toxicological testing methods.

On July 30, 2025, NIFDC initiated a public consultation on three draft testing methods for cosmetic products, which are intended to supplement and refine the existing testing methods listed in Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics. Comments can be submitted through NIFDC’s Cosmetic Standards Formulation and Revision Management System by August 20, 2025.

On July 3, 2025, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released three draft cosmetic standards for public consultation. The drafts include the "Human Skin Patch Test," "Cosmetic Safety In-use Test," and "Cosmetic Safety in Long Use Test."

On July 3, 2025, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released three draft cosmetic standards for public consultation. The drafts include the "Human Skin Patch Test," "Cosmetic Safety In-use Test," and "Cosmetic Safety in Long Use Test."

On June 24, 2025, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released a notice​, soliciting public comments on nine cosmetic standards, including the General Principles for Physical and Chemical Testing Methods (Draft for Comment).

On May 7, 2025, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced amendments to the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition) (STSC), introducing 5 new testing methods and revising 2 existing testing methods. These methods will take effect on March 1, 2026, and will apply to cosmetic registration, notification, and sampling testing. Prior to their implementation, NMPA encourages the use of these updated methods for related testing.

On January 22, 2025, China NIFDC released nine testing methods for public consultation. Comments can be submitted via NIFDC’s Cosmetics Standards Formulation and Revision Management System by February 21, 2025.

On October 30, 2024, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced amendments to the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition) (STSC), introducing 3 new testing methods and revising 2 existing testing methods. Effective from July 1, 2025, these updated testing methods apply to cosmetic registration, notification, and sampling tests.

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 are summarized in this article.

On March 21, 2024, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced significant amendments to the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition) (STSC), involving changes to...

On March 21, 2024, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released an announcement that incorporates 15 new toothpaste testing methods into the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics. Effective from December 1, 2024, these testing methods apply to toothpaste registration, notification, and sampling tests.

On August 28, 2023, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced significant amendments to the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition) (STSC), involving...

On July 8, 2022, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) launched public consultation on three draft testing methods for 72 cosmetic ingredients, including 40 fragrance components, 24 prohibited colorants, and 8 hair perming agents. Cosmetic stakeholders can send suggestions to [email protected] before July 31, 2022.

On March 31, 2022, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) released a draft of the Safety and Technical Standard for Cosmetics 2022 (draft STSC 2022) for public comments...

The main amendments include adding 24 prohibited ingredients, amending the names and CAS numbers of prohibited ingredients, classifying and merging prohibited drug ingredients. From May 28, 2021, cosmetic registrants and notifiers are not allowed to produce or import products containing prohibited ingredients stipulated in the new inventories. Among the 24 newly prohibited ingredients, CBD and three other Cannabis Sativa derived ingredients are included, which means that CBD cosmetics are prohibited from being produced and imported in China.

From 2016 to 2021, China has made several amendments to STSC, including newly adding 14 testing methods, improving the content of existing testing methods, and amending the requirements for some prohibited/restricted/permitted ingredients. ChemLinked summarizes all the amendments to STSC in the past six years.

China approved seven cosmetic testing methods, including two efficacy evaluation methods for freckle removing (whitening) and anti-hair loss products. The efficacy evaluation cycle of freckle-removing (whitening) products is at least 37 days, and for anti-hair loss products, at least 12 weeks. This will extend the time for product to enter the market and increase R&D costs.

The main amendments include adding 17 prohibited ingredients, amending 13 prohibited ingredients and 27 prohibited plant (animal) ingredients, classifying and merging prohibited drug ingredients into three categories, and modifying some text contents.

China is inviting public comments on four to-be-approved new cosmetic ingredients, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCL, Methoxy Peg-23 Methacrylate/Glyceryl Diisostearate Methacrylate Copolymer, Calcium Phosphoryl Oligosaccharides and Steareth-200...

On 27th Sept, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) amended the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015) by adding two testing methods: Determination of Hormone Components in Cosmetics and Determination of Anti-infective Drug in Cosmetics...  

Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics 2015 is the overarching technical standards used for regulation of cosmetics in China. It specifies the general safety standards, defining prohibited/restricted/permitted ingredients and setting testing methods for manufactured and operated in the China (except those only for sale abroad)...

As revealed by No.2019-40 Notice of China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on July 11, a new sunscreens testing method has been newly included into the chapter 4 “Physical and Chemical Testing Methods for Cosmetics” of Cosmetics Safety and Technical Standards, bringing the total number of sunscreens testing methods to 8...

The scopes of the amendment to Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics include overview, cosmetic prohibited/limited ingredients, cosmetic permitted ingredients and part of the toxicological testing methods. The 2018 Chinese version of INCI was drafted with reference to PCPC’s International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook. A total of 22620 ingredients are included...

CFDA just approved two more testing methods for cosmetics — In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Transcutaneous Electrical Resistance Test (TER) and Skin Photoallergy Test. These two methods still involve animal testing...

Our sources have reliably informed us that China Food and Drug Administration has approved an alternative to animal testing of cosmetics ingredients, specifically the in-vitro 3T3 NRU phototoxicity test. An official notification relating to the alternative has been internally circulated in the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) which is responsible for formulating cosmetic technical standards including testing methods. The internal notification specifies that the alternative “In Vitro 3T3 NRU Phototoxicity Test for Chemicals in Cosmetics” was reviewed and passed by the Cosmetic Expert Committee. The alternative will be added to Chapter 6 of Safety and Technic...

As revealed by the No. 2019-12 Notice of China NMPA on March 22, 9 testing methods including 5 new methods and 4 revised methods will be included in the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics...