New CFDA Rule to Improve Cosmetic Sampling Inspection

CFDA has published a notice to seek public consultation for its newly drafted “Technical Standard of Sampling Inspection of Cosmetic Supervision” and “Cosmetic Sampling Documentation” on 21 October, aimed at further improving the quality of sampling inspection of cosmetics. The consultation will close on 10 November.

According to the “Technical Standard”, cosmetic sampling inspection is defined as “such activity undertaken by Food and Drug Administration to carry out on-site inspection, sampling and testing of cosmetics in production and market circulation and to publish sampling inspection results and corresponding handling measures thereafter, in order to ensure cosmetic safety”.

The standard also specifies the requirements for inspection including supervisory inspection, sampling, sample conveyance, testing, testing report notification and re-check, information analysis and its publication and relevant administrative measures.

Comments from the drug and cosmetic division of CFDA have suggested that the sampling inspection would likely cover manufacturers and distributors of different types of cosmetics within an individual FDA’s administrative sphere and ought to highlight high risk products and include provisions to oversee the activities of specific companies for a certain period.

Documentation check would be another major focus during sampling inspection. Asking companies to show proof of the validity of their cosmetic manufacturing permit, approval of special-use cosmetics, operation license, product label compliance, instruction compliance, product ingredient compliance , signal phrases, batch code and expiry date will be another major supervisory focus. 

Reference: http://www.sda.gov.cn/WS01/CL1172/133068.html