Crackdown on Counterfeit Cosmetics

On August 28, 2012, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) held a press conference to release its supervisory results, which cover information about crackdowns on counterfeit cosmetics.

The government has cracked 46 illegal cases and outlawed batches of manufacturing sites that produce counterfeit and inferior cosmetics. Some lawbreakers are involved in producing fake facial masks or products with excessive amount of heavy metals, making cosmetics without license, forging the place of origin, etc.

Through analyzing those cases, in the second half of this year, state and local inspection agencies will enhance law enforcement on special use cosmetics, such as whitening, spot removal and sunblock cosmetics, and those applicable to special groups, like babies and children. The key regulatory targets include the content of heavy metals and illegal addition in cosmetic products.

Manufacturers of domestic and imported cosmetics must apply for a hygiene license for production and make cosmetics in strict compliance with Hygienic standard for Cosmetics (2007), which laid down limitations for hazardous, restricted substances in cosmetics.