China Consults on Cosmetic Ingredient Data and Safety Assessment

On November 4, 2026, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control issued a notice seeking public comment on a draft guideline for the use of cosmetic ingredient data. Comments are due by November 30.

The draft clarifies how a three-year history of safe use for an ingredient is to be assessed. It also sets out the basis for safety assessments of ingredients associated with special cosmetic claims, including skin whitening and hair loss prevention.

Implications for formulation and compliance

The proposed guidance could make the evidence supporting ingredient safety a more explicit consideration during formulation development. Cosmetic companies and contract manufacturers may need to examine whether the data available for an ingredient supports its claimed history of safe use, particularly when assessing formulations with special efficacy claims.

The document is open for comment, so its practical effect will depend on the final guidance. The consultation signals an effort to clarify how ingredient data can support safety assessments, but it does not establish that every proposed detail will remain unchanged.