China Implements Amended Cosmetic Prohibited Ingredient Inventories: 24 Newly Prohibited Ingredients Including Cannabidiol (CBD)

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.

On Jan. 22, 2021, China opened a public consultation on the draft amended Inventory of Prohibited Ingredients for Cosmetics and Inventory of Prohibited Plant (Animal) Ingredients for Cosmetics. Based on the collected public opinions, on May 28, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released and implemented the finalized Inventory of Prohibited Ingredients for Cosmetics and Inventory of Prohibited Plant (Animal) Ingredients for Cosmetics. ¹

These two new inventories replaced the previous inventories of prohibited cosmetic ingredients and were included in the corresponding chapters of Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC).

Names of the New Inventories

Chapters in STSC

Total Number of Ingredients

Main Amendments

Inventory of Prohibited Ingredients for Cosmetics

Chapter 2 Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients Used in Cosmetics

1 Prohibited Ingredients Used in Cosmetics (Inventory 1)

1284

Add 20 prohibited ingredients for cosmetics;
Amend the names and CAS numbers of prohibited ingredients for cosmetics;
Classify and merge prohibited drug ingredients for cosmetics.

Inventory of Prohibited Plant (Animal) Ingredients for Cosmetics

Chapter 2 Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients Used in Cosmetics

2 Prohibited Plant (Animal) Ingredients Used in Cosmetics (Inventory 2)

109

Add four prohibited plant (animal) ingredients for cosmetics;
Standardize the names of prohibited plant (animal) ingredients for cosmetics;
Clarify that five plant (animal) ingredients are prohibited from using in cosmetics as fragrance ingredients.

Detailed Amendments

1. Add 24 prohibited ingredients

Compared with the previous inventories, 24 prohibited cosmetic ingredients have been added to the two new inventories.