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CSAR Subsidiary Regulations: China Releases the Draft Cosmetic Classification Rules and Catalog

Jul 29, 2020
Winnie Xu
The classification of cosmetics in China will be refined into 5 categories and will adopt a coding system going forward.

The draft lists 28 efficacy claims, 13 application areas, 14 dosage forms, 3 types of target users and 2 application methods to determine the classification of cosmetics.

On July 29, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued the draft Cosmetic Classification Rules and Catalog for public consultation [1], which is one of the significant subsidiary regulations of China’s Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR) and the revised version of the previous draft Cosmetic Classification Standard [2]. The consultation period will last until August 30, 2020. Stakeholders with any suggestions or opinions can send back to NMPA by mail at [email protected].

Encompassing 12 articles and 5 coding catalogs, the new draft stipulates that the classification of cosmetics will be refined into 5 categories and will adopt a coding system going forward. Specifically, the five categories are:

5 Layers

Sub-categories

Range of Codes

1st layer

Efficacy Claims

Includes 28 kinds of claims such as cleansing, makeup removing, moisturizing, beauty modifying, hair styling,   sunscreen, deodorant, hair removal, etc.

01-28, A*

2nd layer:

Application Areas

Includes 13 parts such as hair, scalp, body skin, face, eyes, underarms, etc.

01-13, B*

3rd layer

Dosage Forms

Includes 14 categories such as creams, emulsions, water aquas, gels, powders or solids, pastes, aerosols, etc.

01-14, C*

4th layer

Target Users

Includes 3 categories, namely ordinary people, infants (between birth and the age of 3), and children (aged between 3 and 12).

01-03, D*

5th layer

Application Methods

Rinse-off and leave-on categories

01, 02

Note: 

  1. "*": In any of the first four layers, products outside the prescribed sub-categories will fall under a separate class, be coded by letters and managed as special cosmetics. 

  2. For the specific coding catalogs, please refer to our upcoming English translation (It is in urgent translation and the English Version will be uploaded these days).

The cosmetics classification code is composed of 5 layers of numbers, and each layer is separated by "-" and represented by a 2-digit number or letters. For example, 

  • The classification code of facial cleanser may be 01-05-01-01-01; 

  • The classification code of children's sunscreen may be 09-03-01-03-02; 

  • The classification code of the whitening moisturizing body lotion may be 0310-03-02-01-02.

If the product involving multiple efficacy claims, application areas, etc., the layer may be represented by a 4-digit number (or more) and arranged in ascending order. For example, the efficacy claim code of "Sunscreen Repair Product" may be 0914; the application area code of “Lip/Eye Makeup Remover” may be 0607.

Besides, products that must be used in conjunction with two or more doses, and indivisible cosmetic sets shall be classified and coded as one product.

Points for Attention

  • Compared with the previous Cosmetic Classification Standard that proposed a “4-layer coding system”, this consultation draft adds a new layer of application methods: rinse-off category and leave-on category.

  • Under CSAR, a 5-year transition period was granted for already registered hair growth, hair removal, breast beauty, slimming, and deodorant cosmetics from the implementation date of this regulation. The production, import, and sale of such cosmetics are prohibited after the transition period. As per this draft, hair growth, breast beauty and slimming are not included in the cosmetic efficacy claims, while hair removal and deodorant still belong to the category of cosmetic efficacy claims and will still fall under the oversight of cosmetics.

  • Once implemented, cosmetic enterprises shall firstly determine the classification of cosmetic in line with this regulation prior to applying for cosmetic notification or registration.

Related Resources:

Tags : Chinese MainlandPre-market ApprovalEfficacyCSAREnterprise Obligations
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