It is no use explaining why cosmetics brands had better venture into China. This dense market promises bright establishment prospects. But before packing your bags, you will need to take interest in the regulations in force as regards import, because they are different from what we know in the European Union. At the Paris Cosmed congress dedicated to international cosmetics regulations last March 23, April Guo, Regulatory Affairs Manager at CIRS, presented the differences between the Chinese and European regulations.
Definition of a cosmetic product
In China
Cosmetic products are defined as ‘daily used industrial chemicals which can be spread on the outer surface of human body (skin, hairs, nails, lips, etc.) for the purposes of cleaning, deodorizing, skincare, beauty, and makeup, by the way of smearing, spraying, or other similar means’.
In addition, the regulations in force make a distinction between two types of cosmetics:
• Ordinary cosmetics: hair care, nail care, skincare, perfumes, and makeup
• Special use cosmetics: products for hair growth, hair dye, hair perm, hair removal, breast shaping, fitness (slimming products…), cosmetics with skin-whitening and skin pigmentation reduction claims
In Europe
Under Regulation 1223/2009, a cosmetic product is ‘any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (epidermis, hair system, nails, lips, and external genital organs) or with the teeth and the mucous membranes of the oral cavity with a view exclusively or mainly to cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance, protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting body odours.’
In Europe, there is no specific classification for cosmetics. April Guo highlighted the ’need to pay attention to the definition of a …
