China Consults on the Revisions to GB 5296.3 General Labeling for Cosmetics

On Dec. 25, China General Administration of Quality Supervision opened public consultation on the proposal to update GB 5296.3 Instruction for Use of Consumer Products: General Labeling for Cosmetics. Any suggestions or comments can be sent back prior to 25 January 2019.

The proposed revisions include:

1. To add mandatory geographical origin labelling

2. To exempt small packages from the labeling requirements such as increasing label area

3. To delete the relevant contents of the hygiene license

4. To add the contents that must be labeled for primary packaging

5. Other requirements that can be added after discussion

GB 5296.3 Instruction for Use of Consumer Products: General Labeling for Cosmetics

The compulsory national standard GB 5296.3 specifies the basic principles, required contents and detailed requirements for labeling of all cosmetic products was firstly published in 1987 and went through two amendments in 1995 and 2008.

The currently effective version of GB 5296.3-2008 is now outdated necessitating the development of a new standard which accommodates the significant technical advances made by industry and the legislative and regulatory developments made by China’s trade partners.