It is the final announcement regarding officially removing compulsory animal test requirements for non-special use cosmetics produced in China after 6 weeks' public consultations on a draft notice issued in Nov 2013.
According to regulatory body, the 'Chemical Inspection & Regulation Service', the filing is very efficient this time around and highlights that in comparison to the draft notice, many dates and deadlines have been changed that manufacturers should take note of.
Key changes outlined in this document
According to the announcement, toxicology test reports will no longer be required if companies have the capabilities to conduct their own safety assessment of ingredients to ensure the safety of their finished cosmetic products.
It also notes the following changes:
- For domestic non-special use cosmetics, companies will now need to conduct online record-keeping of their products from 30th Jun 2014 before marketing their products in China.
- The provincial food and drug authority will no longer issue record-keeping certificates for approved domestic non-special use cosmetics. The record-keeping requirements will be reduced while post-market supervision will be strengthened.
- Cosmetics with skin-whitening and skin pigmentation reduction claims will be classified as special use cosmetics (anti-freckle category) from 16th Dec 2013. The whitening cosmetics produced/approved before 30th June 2015 can be sold until the end of their shelf life.
To further look at the differences between current record-keeping requirements and the new requirements, please click here.
What this will now mean for the industry...
According to CIRS, for many local cosmetic companies that do not have sufficient safety assessment capabilities, this filing means carrying out toxicology tests will be easier to do.
For many foreign cosmetic brands who wish to enter the Chinese market while avoiding animal testing during this approval process, the regulatory body says there may be a way forward for them to achieve both.
It states that brands can do this by finding a toll manufacturer to produce their cosmetic products locally in China.
However as a final note, the regulatory body says that "It is not clear when the current compulsory animal test will also be removed for imported cosmetics or special use cosmetics produced in China.”