China NMPA Launches Second Phase of Personalized Cosmetics Pilot Program

On September 17, 2025, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced the launch of the second phase of its pilot program for personalized cosmetic services, accompanied by the release of the Working Requirements for the Personalized Cosmetic Services Pilot Program. ¹ The initiative follows the first one-year pilot introduced on November 10, 2022, in five regions—Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Guangdong. ²

The second phase significantly expands the program to 15 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Shaanxi. Provincial regulators will select participants under a “best-of-the-best” principle. The new pilot will run for two years.

The program allows qualified cosmetic notifiers or domestic responsible persons to provide on-site, small-batch blending and dispensing of two or more notified general cosmetics tailored to individual consumer needs within specialty or directly operated stores. However, children’s cosmetics, eye-area skincare products, and cosmetics containing new ingredients are excluded.

Eligibility Criteria

1) Participants must be cosmetic notifiers or domestic responsible persons authorized by overseas notifiers.

2) Participants must hold a valid cosmetic production license.

3) Participants must have a sound quality management system, good social credit, adequate technical capacity, and no record of cosmetic safety violations in the past three years.

Operational and Quality Requirements

1) Application and Approval: Companies must apply and submit required documents to their provincial Medical Products Administration (MPA) and pass an on-site assessment before approval.

2) Quality Management System: Companies must integrate the business premises providing personalized services into the notifier’s overall quality management system and establish dedicated mechanisms to ensure the quality and safety of personalized products. The use of intelligent equipment and digital technologies to enhance personalized services is strongly encouraged.

3) Quality and Safety Officer: Each pilot store is required to designate a quality and safety officer. This officer is responsible for maintaining a quality management system suited to personalized services, overseeing product quality and safety, supervising release procedures, and ensuring that the entire service process is fully traceable.

4) Personnel and Facilities: All staff engaged in personalized cosmetic services must undergo professional training and hold relevant qualifications. Stores must set up designated operational areas and equipment that are physically separated from other retail spaces to prevent contamination and unauthorized access.

5) Traceability and Labeling: Companies must guarantee complete product traceability through batch numbers or serial numbers. The final product label must clearly indicate the company name, business premises, service location, date of service, and use-by date, while also complying with all other applicable regulatory requirements.

6) Post-Market Surveillance: Pilot stores are obliged to keep comprehensive sales records, establish mechanisms for managing consumer complaints, and report any adverse reactions through the official monitoring system.

This initiative aims to further explore regulatory frameworks for personalized cosmetics, while ensuring product quality, safety, and consumer protection.

Further Reading

• China NIFDC Consults on 18 Draft Cosmetic Standards

• China Seeks Public Feedback on Draft Guidelines for Anti-Hair Loss Cosmetics

• China Amends the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics 2015 (STSC): Adding 5 Toxicological Testing Methods