CHINA. In big breaking news with hugely positive repercussions for offshore duty free in Hainan, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced yesterday that effective 1 May, 2021 imported general cosmetics can waive animal testing under specific conditions (see below).
The end of mandatory animal testing (‘toxicology test’) for imported cosmetics is part of the new regulatory framework for cosmetics in China revealed by the NMPA yesterday.
Until now, Hainan’s offshore duty free sector could only sell cosmetics that had undergone animal testing – a constraint that does not apply to the traditional duty free channel on the Mainland.
“This is a big story for downtown duty free in Hainan, opening the door for all the hot Indie brands such as Tatcha or Charlotte Tilbury etc. to enter once registration can be completed by about September,” said Rob Robertson, Founder & CEO of Star Brands Asia and Beauty Director for Bluebell China.
[Look out for more from Robertson and other market experts in a follow-up story soon]
Requirements for waiving toxicology test on General Cosmetics*
- The production entity shall provide relevant certifications of Quality Management System issued by the local government of the country (region).
- Provide sufficient safety and risk assessment materials confirming the safety of the products;
- The filing products are not aimed at children or infants;
- The filing products do not contain any new raw materials that are not included in the approved list of raw materials in China;
- The applicant, the responsible person in China as well as production entity have not been listed as key supervision objects.
*If the product is produced by more than one production entity, then all of the entities shall obtain the official certificate to waive animal test.
Source: Knudsen&CRC
In addition to regulations pertaining to animal testing (toxicology test), the new regulation includes the requirements for:
- product registration and filing system account opening
- registration and filing documents
- raw material supplier filing and declaration, l#
- label, sample test, safety assessment;
- and requirements on how to revise, renew or cancel filing/registrations.
