China Updates New Cosmetic Ingredient Registration Rules: Several Higher-Risk Ingredient Categories Removed

On June 26, 2026, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued Announcement No. 59 of 2026, introducing new administrative provisions for New Cosmetic Ingredients (NCIs). Simultaneously, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) published the accompanying technical dossier guidelines. Both documents take effect on July 15, 2026, aiming to foster ingredient innovation while maintaining strict oversight under the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR).

The most significant shift is the refinement of the "higher-risk" category. By narrowing this classification to five specific functions, the NMPA has created a clear pathway for many ingredients to move from the intensive registration route to the more streamlined notification route, subject to their characteristics and applicable regulatory requirements.

Key Highlights for International Developers

For international NCI developers and applicants, these reforms directly optimize the commercialization pipeline:

• Expanding Notification Eligibility: Many ingredients now qualify for the notification route rather than full registration, as the higher-risk category is now limited to five specific functions.
• Facilitating Data Reuse: Redundant testing can be avoided by leveraging existing safety data that meets Chinese or internationally recognized standards.
• Reducing Submission Hurdles: Administrative burden is lowered by allowing specific supporting documents to be retained internally for inspection rather than submitted upfront.

By cutting dossier submission hurdles and expanding data reuse, Chinese authorities are making it significantly easier to bring innovative cosmetic ingredients to market. However, the reforms do not remove applicants’ responsibility for ensuring that all submitted and retained information is complete, accurate, authentic, lawful, and traceable.

To ensure your portfolio remains compliant with these updated regulations, explore Cisema’s services for China Compliant Cosmetic Ingredients or contact our team today to accelerate your market entry.

Why the Administrative Provisions Were Revised

The updated framework replaces the administrative provisions issued under NMPA Announcement No. 31 of 2021. The NMPA states that the revised provisions are intended to accelerate the research and development of new cosmetic ingredients, encourage innovation, and support high-quality industry development. 

To improve clarity, the new framework separates the overarching administrative requirements from the detailed technical dossier rules:

• The NMPA Administrative Provisions establish the administrative and procedural requirements for NCI registration and notification.
• The NIFDC Technical General Rules set out detailed technical requirements for ingredient classification, research data, quality control, stability, safety testing, and dossier preparation.

This structure allows the administrative rules and technical expectations to be presented in complementary documents.

Key Regulatory Changes

Several important changes will affect companies seeking registration or notification of new cosmetic ingredients in China.

Narrower Scope of Higher-Risk Ingredients Requiring Registration

Under the previous provisions, ten functional categories required registration. Registration is now limited to new cosmetic ingredients intended for use as:

• Preservatives
• Sunscreens
• Colorants
• Hair dyes
• Skin whitening and freckle removal

The following new cosmetic ingredient functions are no longer classified as higher risk and therefore no longer require registration:

• Anti-hair loss
• Anti-acne
• Anti-wrinkle (excluding physical wrinkle reduction)
• Anti-dandruff
• Deodorizing ingredients

Reduced Dossier Submission Requirements

Several documents that previously had to be submitted with a new cosmetic ingredient dossier now only need to be retained by the applicant for future inspection,

• Functional-Support Documentation: Still mandatory at submission for the five high-risk categories and anti-hair loss ingredients. For other functions, this data may generally be retained internally.
• Analytical Methods: Methods for parameters tied to safety or core quality (e.g., purity, marker substances) must still be submitted. Detailed validation materials for secondary quality-control parameters may be retained for inspection.
• Stability Studies: While basic research is required, accelerated and long-term stability data may be retained for inspection, provided the basic assessment confirms the ingredient's stability or ensures risks are controlled.

However, these rules are conditional and do not apply uniformly to every ingredient or document category. Ultimately, applicants remain responsible for maintaining complete, accurate, current, and inspection-ready records.

Increased Flexibility for Data Reuse

Where testing has already been conducted using another Chinese national standard or an internationally accepted method, the applicant may use the resulting data if the applicable conditions are met.

The applicant must generally:

• Provide the complete test report
• Identify the source of the test method
• Compare the method with the corresponding method under China’s Cosmetic Safety Technical Specification
• Analyze any differences between the methods
• Demonstrate that those differences do not affect the safety-assessment conclusion for the new ingredient

Where the Cosmetic Safety Technical Specification does not contain an applicable method, testing may be conducted using a Chinese national standard or an internationally accepted method.

Simplified Procedures for Changing the China Responsible Person

The revised administrative provisions also simplify the procedure for changing the China Responsible Person for a new cosmetic ingredient.

When the Responsible Person changes, the applicant must submit:

• A new authorization letter that satisfies the applicable requirements
• A commitment stating that the proposed new Responsible Person will assume the relevant responsibilities previously held by the former Responsible Person

The new provisions do not list consent from the former Responsible Person or a court judgment among the documents required under this procedure.

Companies making such a change should nevertheless ensure that the authorization documents, transfer of responsibilities, regulatory records, retained samples, monitoring information, and platform access are handled consistently.

Stronger Emphasis on Internal Documentation

While the new rules reduce upfront submission burdens, they place a premium on internal accountability. Registrants, notification holders, and their China Responsible Persons are strictly liable for the authenticity, accuracy, completeness, and traceability of all information — whether submitted or retained.

Companies must maintain a robust document-control system to ensure that records and physical samples are readily retrievable during regulatory audits. Retained ingredient samples must be stored properly and feature comprehensive labeling, including:

• The name of the registrant, notification holder, or China Responsible Person
• The Chinese name of the ingredient
• Production date and shelf life
• Storage conditions

Ensuring Compliance Under the New Framework

While the revised framework reduces submission requirements, it also places greater emphasis on internal compliance systems.

To stay compliant, companies should:

• Review ingredient classification to determine whether current development projects remain within the revised higher-risk registration categories or may now qualify for notification
• Evaluate existing safety studies to determine whether available data meet the conditions for reuse under the revised framework
• Strengthen document retention systems to ensure records retained for inspection are complete, current, and readily retrievable
• Update technical documentation by comparing existing dossiers with the new NIFDC Technical Guidelines and identifying any required revisions before future submissions

Final Thoughts

By narrowing the registration bottleneck and easing administrative burdens, Chinese authorities are actively opening doors for faster product launches and cutting-edge ingredient development.

However, fewer paperwork requirements at submission mean higher accountability during post-market surveillance. For international manufacturers, successfully capitalizing on these regulatory efficiencies requires a flawless internal document-control system and a nuanced understanding of how NMPA administrative rules interplay with NIFDC technical guidelines.

Cisema bridges the gap between these evolving mandates and your commercial goals. With comprehensive expertise across regulatory affairs and cosmetic compliance in China, we provide the infrastructure needed to maintain a compliant, inspection-ready portfolio.

For support with cosmetic product registration and cosmetic ingredient compliance in China, contact Cisema today.

Further Information

• Explore Cisema’s China Compliant Cosmetic Ingredients Services

References

• Announcement of the National Medical Products Administration on Issuing Regulations on the Registration, Filing, and Data Management of New Cosmetic Ingredients (2026 No. 59)
• Notice from the Central Inspection Institute on the Release of the "Technical General Rules for Registration and Filing Materials of New Cosmetic Ingredients."

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