Monthly Recap: Asia-Pacific Cosmetic Regulatory Updates | July 2021

Beijing Daily Chemical Association Consults on Two Group Standards

On July 1, 2021, Beijing Daily Chemical Association released a notice to seek public consultations on two group standards, which are “Catalogue of Chinese Plant Ingredients Used in Cosmetics” and “Guidelines for the Research and Development of Chinese Plant Ingredients Used in Cosmetics”. Any advice or suggestion can be mailed to bdcafg@163.com before July 30, 2021. [Reference Link]

Shanghai Implements Electronic Cosmetic Production License

On July 6, Shanghai MPA announced that from the date of the announcement Shanghai would implement the electronic Cosmetics Production License, and in principle no paper licenses would be issued from then on. The electronic license is generated on the online system after the application for Cosmetics Production License is approved. Companies can print paper licenses by themselves. [Reference Link]

China NMPA Publishes Cosmetics Safety Risk Monitoring Plan

On July 5, 2021, China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released National Cosmetics Safety Risk Monitoring Plan for 2021 H2, clarifying that there are 18 product categories, 4 sales channels and 5 items to be monitored. [ChemLinked News]

China Association of Fragrance Flavor and Cosmetic Industries (CAFFCI) to Draft Four Cosmetic Group Standards

On July 7, 2021, China Association of Fragrance Flavor and Cosmetic Industries (CAFFCI) announced that it would draft four cosmetic group standards as below:

• Cosmetic ingredients - Licorice root extract

• Cosmetic ingredients - Pueraria lobata extract

• Cosmetic ingredients - Gentiana manshurica/ Gentiana scabra/ Gentiana trifloral/ Gentiana rigescens

• Cosmetic dropper - Borosilicate glass tube

[Reference Link]

Four Batches of Cosmetics were Rejected in June 2021

On July 16, 2021, China General Administration of Customs (GAC) gave an update on rejected food and cosmetics. Four batches of cosmetics imported from South Korea and Germany failed customs inspection in June. Reasons for rejections were unqualified labels and failure to provide certificates or compliant certification documents as required. [Reference Link]

China State Administration for Market Regulation Requires Strict Investigation on False Advertising of “Stem Cell Anti-aging"

Considering “containing stem cells” are used in a large number of advertisements claiming to have efficacies including anti-aging, beautifying, sugar control, anti-cancer, etc. without filing related clinical research with the health department, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) requires all provincial AMRs to further strengthen the monitoring and supervision of the advertisements and strictly investigate false and illegal advertising. [Reference Link]

Tmall Global Introduces Three Favorable Measures for Overseas Brands

On July 29, Tmall Global introduced three new service measures to help overseas brands enter the Chinese market with lower cost and higher efficiency. The three major services include allowing the business entities to temporarily withdraw the guarantee deposit, opening rapid entry channels, and establishing business-entity entry service centers. [Reference Link]

Shanghai Strengthens Cosmetics Production Quality Management

On July 22, 2021, Shanghai MPA released four measures to strengthen the cosmetic production quality management. The four measures are:

• Focus on key steps in the production chain and investigate hidden risks in production quality

• Implementing enterprise's primary responsibilities and improve the production quality management system

• Clarify the imputation of responsibilities and strengthen the quality management of commissioned production

• Implement self-inspection by cosmetic registrants, notifiers and manufacturers

[Reference Link]

Shanghai Releases the Action Plan for High-quality Development of the Cosmetics Industry

On July 30, 2021, Shanghai MPA released the Action Plan for High-quality Development of the Cosmetics Industry, which introduces a series of measures. The aims of the plan are:

• By 2023, Shanghai's cosmetic market scale reaches 300 billion yuan. The main business income of the cosmetics industry exceed 100 billion yuan. The market witnesses the emerging of 10 leading companies with annual operating income of more than 5 billion yuan and more than 10 high-quality companies with 2 billion yuan.

• 3-5 leading international brands and 20 domestic first-class classic brands emerge on the market, and a batch of trendy and cutting-edge brands are incubated;

• Cultivating 10 leading cosmetics design demonstration enterprises in the country, selecting 20 "Shanghai Design 100+" excellent cosmetics projects and cultivate a number of enterprise technology centers; Cultivating 20 advanced research and development, inspection and testing, safety assessment, and efficacy evaluation institutions;

• Create 10 digital transformation demonstration enterprises and application scenarios.

[Reference Link]

Taiwan Implements Three New Cosmetic Regulatory Systems in July

In line with the Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act, Taiwan has implemented the following three new cosmetic regulatory systems from July 1, 2021. The highlights are as follows:

• General cosmetics are subject to notification;

• New labeling requirements for cosmetic packaging, containers, labels, or directions are implemented;

• Unmedicated toothpaste and mouthwash are classified as general cosmetics.

[ChemLinked News]

South Korea Supports Cosmetic Refill Business to Reduce the Packaging Material Waste

On July 1, 2021, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the Ministry of Environment (MOE) issued a joint response to cosmetic packaging materials waste. They introduced the “green consumption plan," allowing consumers to get the cosmetic contents refilled from the retail store after using it. The plan involves the cosmetic refilling pilot projects in custom cosmetic stores, sanitation management guidelines, establishment of cosmetic refilling national standard, and package management guideline, etc. [Reference Link]

South Korea Implements New Packaging Material Requirements

On July 9, 2021, MOE implemented the Guideline on Recycling Symbols and Standards of Labeling Quality, which will take effect on January 1, 2022. The Guideline introduces the “unable to recycle" label and revises the text on recycling symbol which indicates the packaging material. [ChemLinked News]

South Korea Rolls out Three Alternative Animal Testing Guidelines

On July 15, MFDS introduced three alternative animal testing method guidelines: Reconstructed human Cornea-like Epithelium (RhCE) Test Method, Short Time Exposure (STE) in vitro Test Method, and Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Test Method. These guidelines are applicable for eye irritation tests for cosmetics. These documents include the principle of the tests, considerations & limitations, examination preparation, test procedure, result report, etc. 

South Korea Issues Products Risk Assessment Act

On July 27, 2021, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) rolled out a new act named Act of Risk Assessment of Products for Human Body. This act is to comprehensively manage the risks of the products directly applied to the human body.

The competent authority introduced that in the past, they individually conducted the risk assessment on food, cosmetics, drugs, and sanitation supplies, etc., which resulted in potential danger of consumer exposure to health risk when using multiple products at once. Therefore, MFDS established a new risk assessment mechanism to control the safety of FMCG. [ChemLinked News]

Japan Revises the Approval Requirements for Quasi-drugs

At the end of 2020, Japan MHLW unveiled three amendments for public consultation, proposing to amend the manufacturing and marketing approval standards of medicated oral-care products, hair dyes, and permanent wave agents. On June 28, 2021, MHLW released several announcements, which officially approved these three amendments and made some adjustments to the approval requirements for medicated oral-care products. In addition,  MHLW modified the List of Permitted Additives in Quasi-drugs. These amendments came into force on July 1, 2021. [ChemLinked News]

Indonesia Implements Guidelines on the Follow-up of Cosmetics Supervision Results

On July 13, 2021, Indonesia implemented Guidelines on the Follow-up of Supervision Results of Traditional Medicines, Quasi Drugs, Health Supplements, and Cosmetics. This regulation mainly stipulates BPOM's supervision requirements for cosmetics, traditional medicines, quasi drugs and health supplements in circulation, including the supervision items, supervision results, and corresponding measures. [Reference Link]

Thailand Defines Tampon as Cosmetics

On June 29, 2021, Thailand Food and Drug Administration issued a notice to reclassify tampon, a feminine hygiene product goes inside the vagina to soak up the menstrual blood, as cosmetics. The notice took effect on July 19. [Reference Link]

India to Regulate Skin Patches Products

On July 26, 2021, India Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) opened a public consultation, planning to regulate products like skin patches as cosmetics. The consultation will last until August 25. Stakeholders with any comments can write to the authority via dci@nic.in before the deadline. [Reference Link]

Australia AICIS Clarifies the Translation Requirements for Non-English Documents Submitted

On July 13, 2021, the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) issued a notice stating that the submission of any documents that are not in English must be enclosed with an English translation, and a statement from an accredited or approved translator indicating that the English translation is a true and accurate translation of the original document. Besides, AICIS also published lists of accredited translation associations in Australia and overseas. [Reference Link]

Australia AICIS Publishes a Reminder for Registration and Renewals for the 2021-22 Year

On July 14, 2021, AICIS published a fact sheet on its website, reminding business entities that wish to continue introducing industrial chemicals into Australia after 31 August 2021 to renew registration by 1 September 2021. In addition, the fact sheet also involves some other aspects of AICIS registration, including registration instructions, registration levels, and corresponding charges. [Reference Link]

*All businesses which introduce industrial chemicals or certain products that release industrial chemicals into Australia for commercial purposes must register with the AICIS. The AICIS registration year lasts from September 1 to August 31 of next year. Businesses that are going to continue importing or manufacturing industrial chemicals must renew the registration by August 31 each year.

Australia AICIS Releases Reminders for Post-Introduction Declaration for Exempted Introductions

On July 28, 2021, the AICIS issued an information sheet reminding businesses to submit a post-introduction declaration for exempted introductions from August 1, 2021. Post-introduction declaration is a once-off declaration that enterprises must submit after introducing the following exempted introductions for the first time: 1) low-concern polymers, 2) low-concern biopolymers, 3) chemicals categorized as very low risk for human health and the environment. It is separate to the obligation of fulfilling an annual declaration . [Reference Link]

Australia AICIS Releases a Reminder for Annual Declaration

On July 30, 2021, the AICIS issued an information sheet reminding all businesses that have registered with AICIS to introduce industrial chemicals or products containing industrial chemicals to submit an annual declaration. The submission period will be from 1 August 2021 to 30 November 2021. Notably, the annual declaration is a declaration of the industrial chemicals imported or manufactured during the previous registration year. It is separate to any other reporting obligations that enterprises may have for their introductions. [Reference Link]