After 30 years of waiting, China's new overarching regulation - Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR) was finalized on June 29, 2020, and scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2021. As we are approaching the implementation date and to help stakeholders smoothly transition over to a new regulatory era, China NMPA released transitional measures to help implement the CSAR on December 28, 2020.
The announcement stipulates the transitional measures in the following 7 aspects:
1. Cosmetic Registrants and Notifiers
Starting from January 1, 2021, all enterprises or other organizations that hold a special cosmetics registration certificate (special use cosmetics administrative license) or complete notifications of general cosmetics (non-special-use cosmetics) shall be responsible for the quality, safety and efficacy of cosmetics in accordance with the requirements for cosmetic registrants and notifiers in the CSAR.
2. Registration and Notification
Starting from January 1, 2021, cosmetics and new cosmetic ingredients will be subject to classified management. Prior to the finalization and implementation of the new regulations on registration and notification, cosmetic registrants and notifiers shall submit registration and notification dossiers in accordance with the current regulations, while new cosmetic ingredients registrants and notifiers shall submit the corresponding dossiers according to the Guidance on Application and Review of New Cosmetic Raw Materials. The notification of cosmetics and new cosmetic ingredients will be deemed completed after the submission of notification dossiers. The medical product administration departments will carry out the review on registration and notification in accordance with the procedures and time limit stipulated in the CSAR.
For special cosmetics with a registration decision made after January 1, 2021, the product registration certificate will be valid for 5 years.
3. Five Types of Special Use Cosmetics
Starting from January 1, 2021, the 5 types of special use cosmetics, namely hair growth products, depilating products, breast beauty products, slimming products and deodorants, will no longer be managed as special cosmetics.