China Allows the Application for Submission Codes for Compound Ingredients

Previously in September 2023, the China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) introduced and enforced three Guidelines:

• Technical Guidelines for Filling in and Submitting Safety Information of Cosmetic Ingredients;

• Guidelines for Submitting Information on the Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Information Submission Platform;

• Technical Guidelines for Filling in and Submitting Cosmetic Formula.

With the implementation of these Guidelines, updates were made to the Cosmetic Ingredients Safety Information Submission Platform. After those updates, only ingredients included in the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China 2021 (IECIC) with single independent serial numbers could be applied for ingredient submission codes. Compound ingredients, which typically comprise multiple serial numbers, were unable to obtain new submission codes through the platform.

Following the update in September, during the cosmetic product registration and notification process, if an ingredient did not have a submission code, registrants or notifiers could only fill in the ingredient’s safety-related information and upload scanned copies of paper documents (Annex 14 of the Provisions for Management of Cosmetic Registration and Notification Dossiers) stamped with the seal of the registrant or notifier. This change caused inconvenience to some registrants and notifiers, and sparked extensive attention and discussion within the industry, posing challenges for industry adaptation.

The good news is that on November 1, 2023, the Cosmetic Ingredients Safety Information Submission Platform was updated once again. After the update, the platform restored the function of ingredient submission codes application for compound ingredients. This means that during cosmetic product registration and notification, the registrant and notifier are now able to use both the existing submission codes and the newly obtained submission codes for compound ingredients.

ChemLinked expects to assist companies in applying for ingredient submission codes and registering/notifying cosmetics in China. If you have any further cosmetic compliance consultation needs, please contact us at cosmetic@chemlinked.com.

Further Reading

• China Allows the Use of Previously Obtained Submission Codes for Compound Ingredients

• China Implements Guidelines for Submitting Information through the Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Information Submission Platform

• China Implements Technical Guidelines for Filling in and Submitting Cosmetic Formula

• China Finalizes Technical Guidance on Ingredient Safety Information Filling and Submission