SFDA Re-consults on Category Control over Non Special-use Cosmetics

SFDA calls for pubic commentary on the revised draft of Category Control over Non/special-use cosmetics, which covers the category adjustment and safety risk assessment of some cosmetics, etc.

May 29, 2012, China State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) published an opinion-soliciting draft to call for public commentary on performing category control over the current non/special-use cosmetics on the Chinese market. The deadline of public feedback is 15 June 2012.

The draft broadens the concept of freckle removal cosmetics (one kind of special use cosmetics) compared with the definition in Article 56 in the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Regulation Concerning the Hygiene Supervision over Cosmetics, in which they are defined as those can reduce pigmentation on the surface of skin, while now cosmetics beneficial to skin brightening or whitening and acre treatment will be incorporated into the management of spot-removing cosmetics. Consequently, enterprises engaged in these products are required to apply for hygiene license.

Apart from the category revision, SFDA will strengthen the monitoring on the safety risk of part of cosmetic products and impose stricter supervision over those made for special groups. With more and more stringent control on cosmetics, there may be other kinds of non-special use cosmetics at present incorporated into special use cosmetics afterwards. In the event of children cosmetics, manufactures in this field should refer to the Guidance on Application and Review of Children (including infants) Cosmetics when applying for record keeping and preparing application documents. Furthermore, cosmetics are not allowed to claim to be used by women during pregnancy or breastfeeding, etc.