China
On February 2, 2023, Beijing Municipal Medical Products Administration (MPA) released an announcement to summarize the unannounced inspection results of manufacturing cosmetics enterprises in 2022. The inspection randomly covers half of the manufacturing enterprises that have legally obtained production licenses within Beijing. Based on the inspection results, Beijing MPA identifies five existing problems of the enterprises, including:
1) In terms of institutions and personnel, the person in charge of quality and safety failed to update his/her job duties in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices for Cosmetics, and the training management system was not fully implemented;
2) In terms of quality assurance and control, relevant records were not modified as required, and the self-inspection plan failed to specify all situations that would activate the inspection;
3) In terms of plant facility and equipment management, the identification of equipment status and cleaning status was not clear, the cleaning and disinfection system was not strictly implemented, and the differential pressure gauge was not installed as required;
4) In terms of material and product management, the material purchase system was imperfect, the material acceptance procedure was not standardized, and the acceptance records were incomplete;
5) In terms of production process management, the technique standards and procedures were imperfect, the production records were not standardized and complete, and enterprises failed to check the material balance after production.
Taobao Implements the Amended Management Standards for Cosmetics
On February 6, 2023, the amended Taobao Management Standards for Cosmetic Industry (the Standards) officially took effect. Compared to the previous version, the amended Standards newly defines cosmetic samples, stipulates the product description requirements for samples, and clarifies the platform entry threshold for sample operators.
On February 9, 2023, Beijing Municipal MPA starts to accept the application for pilot enterprises that offer cosmetics personalized service. The application is open for all general cosmetics enterprises, excluding those manufacturing children cosmetics and/or cosmetics containing new cosmetic ingredients. Enterprises that intend to apply are required to submit a pilot implementation plan to Beijing Municipal MPA, which shall include:
An introduction of the enterprise;
Pilot and implementation modes;
The compliance analysis of the pilot and implementation modes;
Quality and safety control measures for pilot products;
After-sales service assurance;
The value analysis of the pilot mode;
Other information related to the application.
China Conducts a New Round of Public Consultation on the Revision of STSC
To better carry out the dynamic adjustment of the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (STSC), on February 17, 2023, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) announced to solicit public comments on the formulation and revision suggestions of this regulation until March 17, 2023. Local medical products administration and inspection departments, cosmetic associations, cosmetic enterprises, and research institutions are all welcome to submit suggestions, which may cover the revision type, revision aim and applied scope, the current conditions in China and abroad, etc.
China General Administration of Customs (GACC): Two Batches of Cosmetics Rejected in January
On February 21, 2023, GACC updated the list of rejected food and cosmetics in January. Two batches of cosmetics respectively imported from the United States and France failed customs inspection. The reasons for rejection were expired products and lack of required qualified documentation.
During November 14-25, 2022, the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to CITES took place in Panama City, Panama. The meeting made some amendments to Appendices I, II, and III of CITES, and adjusted the standard naming of some species. On February 23, 2023, the Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office of China published the revised appendices to CITES, which entered into force upon its release.
China NIFDC Consults on Six Technical Guidelines for Cosmetics Testing
On February 23, 2023, China NIFDC released six technical guidelines for public consultation, as listed in the table below. Stakeholders with any comments can mail to hzppjzx@nifdc.org.cn before March 13, 2023.
| No. | Draft Technical Guidelines |
| 1 | Technical Guidelines for In Vitro Mammalian Cells Chromosome Aberration Test |
| 2 | Technical Guidelines for In Vitro Mammalian Cell Gene Mutation Test |
| 3 | Technical Guidelines for Determination of the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of Sunscreen Products |
| 4 | Technical Guidelines for Determination of the Waterproof Performance of Sunscreen Products |
| 5 | Technical Guidelines for Acute Inhalation Toxicity Test of Cosmetics |
| 6 | Acute Inhalation Toxicity - Technical Guidelines for Acute Toxic Class (ATC) Method |
China NMPA Approves Three New Cosmetic Ingredients
In February, China NMPA updated the notification status of three new cosmetic ingredients (NCIs), two of which are Hydrolyzed Alpha-Glucan Polysaccharide, and β-Nicotinamide Mononucleotide. Details of the NCI notified most recently have not been published so far. ChemLinked will provide an update once this information is released.
Guangzhou AMR and Beijing Municipal MPA Publish FAQs Regarding Cosmetics Notification
In February 2023, Guangzhou Administration for Market Regulation (AMR) and Beijing Municipal MPA released two batches of FAQs concerning issues revolving around cosmetics notification, such as requirements for ingredient's safety information, annual reporting of general cosmetics, cosmetic labelling, efficacy claim evaluation summary, safety assessment, etc.
| Release Date | Regulatory Authority | Batch |
| February 15, 2023 | Beijing Municipal MPA | The 18th Batch |
| February 21, 2023 | Guangzhou AMR | The 32nd Batch |
China Issues Eight Cosmetics-related Standards in February
In February, China issued eight cosmetics-related standards. The essential information is as follows:
Japan
PMDA: 732 Batches Cosmetics and Quasi-drugs Recalled in February
In February 2023, Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) issued 9 recall notices, requiring a total of 732 batches of cosmetics and quasi-drugs to be recalled. Among them, 712 batches were related to label issues, including incorrect ingredient information (397 batches), brand name (7 batches) and manufacturer information (4 batches).
South Korea
South Korea Revises Cosmetics Safety Standard
On February 21, 2023, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) revised the Regulation on Safety Standards, etc., for Cosmetics to ban five hair dye substances in cosmetics. The regulation will be effective on August 22, 2023. An interim period of two years is granted for enterprises after the regulation implementation.
South Korea Consults on the Enforcement Rule of Cosmetics Act
On February 28, 2023, MFDS disclosed an exposure draft of the Enforcement Rule of Cosmetics Act. To remove the barriers on employing cosmetics responsible managers, the experience requirements are to be optimized, including removing the work experience requirement for custom cosmetic manufacturing managers and deleting the education requirements of specific courses for those majored in nursing. The consulting period is set to end on April 10, 2023.
South Korea KPTA Reminds Enterprises to Report Cosmetic Import Information Before February 28
On February 3, 2023, Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association (KPTA) published a notice, requiring the responsible distribution manager to submit the cosmetic import information before February 28. ChemLinked compiled the online submission methods in this article.
Australia
Australia Adds a Cosmetic Ingredient to the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals
On February 9, 2023, Australia AICIS announced the addition of the industrial chemical cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (CAS No. 1835697-72-7) to the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals under Section 83 of the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019.
The chemical has been assessed as a fragrance component in cosmetic, personal and household products:
imported into Australia at up to 1 tonne per year
imported at up to 100% concentration, for reformulation of end use products for consumers and professional use at less than 1% concentrations
The European Union
EU SCCS Releases the Final Opinion on Alpha-arbutin and Beta-arbutin
On February 1, 2023, EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) released the final opinion on alpha-arbutin and beta-arbutin. Compared to the previous respective opinions on these two ingredients, SCCS/1552/15 and SCCS/1550/15, the potential combined use of the two ingredients in cosmetics are taken into consideration in the latest opinion. Besides, the hydroquinone contamination requirements for their applications are further clarified.
EU SCCS Finalizes Opinion on Aluminium
In May 2022, EU SCCS launched an eight-week public consultation on the preliminary revised opinion on the safety of Aluminium (Al) in cosmetics. After considering the new information received during this period, SCCS set different concentration limits of Al based on product types and released the final opinion on February 2, 2023.
Canada
Canada Amends Certain Regulations Concerning the Disclosure of Cosmetic Ingredients
On February 11, 2023, Canada published the Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 157, Number 6, amending certain regulations concerning the disclosure of cosmetic ingredients. The amendments include the disclosure requirement of certain fragrance allergens on cosmetic labels, the enhanced flexibility for the disclosure of ingredients for cosmetics sold in small packages, the improved oversight of cosmetics, and administrative changes. A detailed analysis article will be published later.
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