China Releases Extensive Standards for Cosmetic Ingredients and Efficacy Testing

Takehome:

• 4 Testing standards will be applied to substantiate cosmetic efficacy from Jan. 1, 2019.

• CAFFCI has released 10 group standards on cosmetic and fragrance ingredients for the industry’s reference.

• China MIIT laid out a plan to draft 10 recommended test standards for chemicals used in cosmetics and other daily use consumer products.

4 Cosmetic efficacy test standards

On Nov. 13, Zhejiang Health Products and Cosmetics Industry Association released 4 new group standards of cosmetic efficacy testing methods to instruct industry on how to evaluate cosmetic efficacy claims effectively and guarantee the claim is based on scientific evidence. These standards are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1 2019.

Generally, it is comparatively difficult to test whether skin care products with specific efficacy claims such as “Whitening”, “Anti-freckles” and Anti-acne” are really effective. Hence, there is virtually no oversight of cosmetic efficacy assessment in China.

Spearheaded by Proya in collaboration with a number of leading domestic companies including Osmun and Yangshengtang as well as some testing companies, the four group standards were designed to fill in the lack of rationale cosmetic efficacy evaluation standards in China, promote increased industry self-regulation and ultimately standardize the market.

10 Cosmetics (fragrance) ingredients standards

On Nov. 30, China Association of Fragrance Flavor and Cosmetic Industries (CAFFCI) released 10 group standards for ingredients used in cosmetics.

The ten standards provide basic information, technical requirements, test method, inspection principle, packaging, labeling, transportation, storage and shelf life for 10 cosmetic ingredients. Cosmetic manufacture enterprises are encouraged to adopt these voluntary standards: (download here)

10 Draft toothpaste/cosmetic ingredient testing standards

On Nov. 30, China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed its plan to draft 355 new industry standards including 10 items for cosmetic sector, which will be gradually completed in the following three years.

The 10 industrial standards include:

What are group standards?

Group standards refer to a series of voluntary standards established or adopted by a professional association or body which provide a certain theoretical and practical basis for the formulation of relevant national standards or industrial specifications.