On 20 Nov 2012, the SFDA is seeking public comments on test methods for certain prohibited or restricted cosmetic ingredients,including 10 colorants and 7 hair dyes, listed in the Hygienic Standard for Cosmetics (2007), which has been revised and under public consultation.
The Hygienic Standard for Cosmetics, formulated by the Ministry of Health in 2007, plays a significant role in managing the safety of cosmetic ingredients and finished products. The Standard contains lists of substances that are banned or restricted in cosmetics in China as well as the toxicological, hygienic chemical, microbiological test methods, etc.. Its revision will bring about update of supporting documents relating to cosmetic ingredients and their testing methods in order to reinforce the cosmetic evaluation.
Recently, Shanghai food and drug administration revealed that the antibiotics and metronidazole which are banned cosmetic ingredients are found to be illegally added in some cosmetic products. The release of those test methods will contribute to improve the testing of banned or restricted cosmetic ingredients and curb the illegal addition.
10 annexes with illustration of testing methods and their drafting background are displayed on the SFDA’s website. The following table shows different test methods for their corresponding banned or restricted cosmetic ingredients and the cosmetic products which may contain those tested substances.
|
Annex |
Test method |
Substance |
Applied cosmetics |
Property |
|
LC-MS-MS method |
10 quinolones |
may be in cosmetics for acne treatment |
banned |
|
|
LC-MS-MS method |
9 antifungal substances |
may be easily added in anti-dandruff cosmetics |
banned |
|
|
Gas chromatographic method
|
α-Chlorotoluene (CAS 100-44-7) |
hair care products, creams, emulsions |
banned |
|
|
Headspace gas chromatographic method-flame ionization detector
|
Ethylene oxide (CAS 75-21-8) Methyloxirane (CAS 75-56-9) |
cleansing cosmetics and other liquid products |
banned |
|
|
High performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) |
Diethyl maleate (CAS 141-05-9) |
sun-screen lotions (creams), nail polish, perfumes |
banned |
|
|
HPLC |
10 colorants |
blush, lipstick, foundation, nail polish, eye shadow, eyelash mascara |
restricted |
|
|
HPLC |
7 hair dyes |
hair perm and hair dye products |
restricted |
|
|
HPLC |
aminocaproic acid |
liquid, cream and powdered products |
banned |
|
|
HPLC |
Chlorphenesin (preservative) |
liquid, cream and powdered products |
restricted |
|
|
Ion chromatographic method |
5 organic amines |
liquid, cream and powdered products |
ban or restricted |
The deadline for this consultation is 15 Dec 2012.
For any comment, you need to fill out the feedback form of test methods or contact Mr. Lin Qingbin from the SFDA:
- Tel: 010-88330884
- Fax: 010-88373268
- E-mail: [email protected]
Note: You can also post your comments on our website and we would help you to deliver them to the SFDA.


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