Domestic Responsible Person
Every cosmetic placed on the Chinese market must have a China-based Responsible Person who handles registration/filing and post-market obligations.
Compliance checkingAsia-Pacific
China (Mainland) cosmetic regulations
NMPA · Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR)
Since the Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR) took effect on 1 January 2021, China has operated a tiered system: special cosmetics (sunscreen, hair dye, hair perm, whitening/spot-lightening, anti-hair-loss, new function) require registration; general cosmetics require filing. Both require a domestic Responsible Person, full formulation disclosure, and safety assessment under NMPA's Technical Guidelines.
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Key facts
- Statute
- CSAR (State Council Order No. 727)
- Local Responsible Person
- Required
- Special cosmetics
- Pre-market registration required
- General cosmetics
- Filing required (faster than registration)
- Animal testing
- Conditional exemption for general cosmetics since May 2021
What China (Mainland) requires
The core obligations every brand selling cosmetics in China (Mainland) must meet.
Registration vs filing
Special cosmetics (sunscreen, hair dye, perm, whitening, anti-hair-loss, new function) require pre-market registration. General cosmetics require filing — typically faster but with similar documentation requirements.
IECIC compliance
Ingredients must be in the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China (IECIC). New cosmetic ingredients require separate registration or notification depending on risk class.
Animal testing
Since May 2021, general cosmetics manufactured outside China may be exempt from mandatory animal testing if the manufacturer holds a GMP certificate and the product is not for use on infants or for eye area.
Chinese labeling
Simplified Chinese is required for mandatory labeling. Claims must be substantiated and registered/filed with NMPA.
How Cosmetica helps
Cosmetica coverage for China (Mainland)
Ingredient compliance checks against the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China (IECIC) and CSAR-required documentation prep. Submission via an in-China Responsible Person.
Primary sources
Always verify current requirements against the regulator's official publications. Cosmetica's analysis cites these primary sources directly in every compliance finding.