Laws & Regulation: Top news on cosmetics regulation across the APAC region

1 - China officially replaces imported cosmetic registration with nationwide filing management

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) officially announced​ that the registration of first-imported non-specials cosmetics has been replaced entirely by filing management nationwide.

Under this new regulatory scheme, foreign manufacturers must elect a domestic responsible person (RP) and authorise the individual to file a record via the online filing system at the administration website of NMPA prior to import.

Only after obtaining a filing certification on the system will the product be permitted for import and distribution.

2 - ‘Regulatory grey area’: Chinese herbal toothpaste controversy highlights licensing and standards anomalies

Yunnan Baiyao, a Chinese toothpaste brand that has become a household name for its herbal approach to treating bleeding gums, has defended its use of tranexamic acid in its formula, which has led others to question the brand’s label claims.​

The ingredients was highlighted by a pair of medical practitioners, who took to Weibo to question if the efficacy of the product was due to tranexamic acid, which is used to treat excessive blood loss, rather than the herbal components.

3 - China’s new CBEC regulations a boon for cosmetics sector

China has decided not to subject first-time cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) imports to licensing, registration or record-filing requirements, signalling easier times ahead for foreign cosmetics​ companies.

According to the statement from the State Council, China plans to “expand and improve” the existing CBEC policies in order to “unlock the potential of consumption” in China.

“The Chinese market opportunities for western brands is colossal. The CBEC regulations change is great news for Chinese consumers in search for quality products,” said Kris Fang, Head of Europe for China Beauteville, a cosmetics hub located Huzhou.

“The government is opening the domestic market to international companies and it will definitely help boost consumption of cosmetics products [in China].”

4 - China on route to banning microbeads in beauty care products

China and Canada have jointly pledged to reduce use of microbeads​ in beauty and personal care products, following a meeting between Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,

The meeting took place at the 33rd ASEAN Summit held in Singapore.

After, the countries jointly released a statement on marine litter and plastics, explicitly stating the intention to “Reduce the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetic and personal care consumer products and address other sources of micro-plastics.”

5 - Unilever unites with Humane Society International to end animal testing for cosmetics

In an “unprecedented move” by one of the globe’s leading beauty brands, Humane Society International notes how these increasing efforts to ban animal testing​ in the cosmetics sphere may well be the “beginning of the end for cruel cosmetics”.

We spoke with Hannah Stuart, HSI Campaign Manager for #BeCrueltyFree Australia to find out how together they are moving towards their key objectives.

Consumer goods giant, Unilever, has announced its support for the #BeCrueltyFree campaign led by Humane Society International (HSI).

HSI emphasises Unilever’s active support for strong bans on cosmetic animal testing and trade in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Australia; a major step forward in its global #BeCrueltyFree campaign.