China to Increase Stringency of Child Cosmetic Standard

Child cosmetics in China have been the subject of strict regulatory enforcement over the course of the last several months according to a CFDA publication entitled “Guidance on Child Cosmetic Notification and Review”. Technical guidance for general cosmetic hygiene and safety standards have been available since 2007, however there has never been any individualized standards to regulate child cosmetics as a discrete category of cosmetics. The only discernable category specific standards have been developed at an industry level and are not compulsory national standards. Given the unique physiological differences between adults and children, lack of specialized standards must be seen as a major shortcoming in China’s cosmetic regulatory framework.