On April 13, 2026, China's State Administration for Market Regulation issued the updated national standard GB/T 29680—2026 for facial cleansers (cream, liquid, mousse, gel, powder), which will come into effect on September 1. The new regulation expands coverage to include mousse, gel, and powder cleansers for the first time, while introducing stricter requirements for children's products. This development warrants attention from cosmetic manufacturers, exporters, and supply chain stakeholders as it will directly impact production compliance and cross-border trade procedures.

Event Overview

The newly revised GB/T 29680—2026 standard explicitly incorporates mousse, gel, and powder formulations into China's facial cleanser regulatory framework. For children's products, specific limitations include pH value ranges (4.5–6.5), 30% stricter microbial indicators, and prohibition of 12 high-risk preservatives. The standard will serve as a mandatory reference for export filings, cross-border e-commerce quality inspections, and overseas buyer factory audits.

Impact on Sub-sectors

Export-oriented Manufacturers

Companies supplying international markets must reformulate products containing newly restricted ingredients. The expanded product scope means previously unregulated formats now require full compliance documentation. Analysis shows export clearance processes may lengthen during the transition period as customs authorities implement new inspection protocols.

Raw Material Suppliers

Suppliers of preservatives and pH adjusters face immediate demand shifts. The banned preservatives list affects existing formulations, while children's product pH requirements may drive purchases of milder buffering agents. Current procurement strategies should account for these compositional changes.

Cross-border E-commerce Platforms

Marketplaces selling imported cleansers must update product screening mechanisms. The standard's adoption as a quality benchmark means non-compliant listings risk removal. Platforms should prepare verification systems for mousse/gel/powder categories previously outside regulatory scrutiny.

Key Action Points

Compliance Timeline Management

With implementation set for September 1, companies should complete formula reviews and testing by Q2 2026 to allow sufficient certification lead time.

Documentation Updates

Technical files require expansion to cover new product formats. Special attention needed for children's product test reports verifying pH compliance and preservative-free status.

Supply Chain Communication

Manufacturers should promptly notify international buyers about reformulation plans to prevent order disruptions. Export documentation must clearly reference the updated GB/T standard.

Industry Perspective

From an industry viewpoint, this revision signals China's tightening cosmetic safety controls, particularly for sensitive demographics. The explicit inclusion of novel formats reflects market evolution, while the export reference designation elevates its global trade significance. Ongoing monitoring is advised as supplementary implementation guidelines may follow.

Conclusion

The updated standard represents a substantive regulatory shift rather than incremental adjustment. While presenting compliance challenges, it also standardizes evaluation criteria for emerging product categories. Industry players should treat this as both an operational compliance matter and strategic opportunity to align with international safety trends.

Source

China State Administration for Market Regulation official announcement (April 13, 2026)