The registration platform for cosmetic raw materials safety information in China is intended to ensure that businesses fulfill their quality and safety responsibilities and comply with relevant regulations.
As the cosmetics industry continues to thrive in China, ensuring the quality and safety of cosmetic products has become a top priority. Regulatory bodies are taking proactive measures to enhance oversight and streamline the registration process for cosmetic raw materials. In this regard, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) has introduced the draft guidelines for registering cosmetic raw material safety information via the registration platform on May 12, 2023.
The draft guidelines aim to facilitate the standardized registration of safety information for cosmetic raw materials, thereby bolstering consumer confidence and regulatory compliance. This article provides an overview of the 13 articles in the draft guidelines, and responsibilities associated with the registration platform.
Registration platform and scope of safety information
The centralized platform serves as a comprehensive database for registering safety information related to cosmetic raw materials, and aims to ensure unified registration practices across the industry. Raw materials with independent serial numbers listed in the Catalogue of Used Cosmetic Raw Materials (2021 edition) should be registered on the platform.
The safety information of cosmetic raw materials primarily includes quality specifications, control of safety risk substances, and conclusions of safety risk assessments. Specific format can be found in the appendix of the draft guidelines, contact us if you would like to learn more.
- Quality specifications: The related information for raw material quality specifications includes basic information, process description, and quality and characteristic indicators.
- Control of safety risk substances: The information related to the control of safety risk substances includes risk information and control indicators.
- Safety risk assessment conclusions: If authoritative institutions have already conducted safety risk assessments on relevant raw materials and have corresponding conclusions, the name of the assessment institution and assessment conclusions should be provided.
Responsibilities of raw material manufacturers
The draft guidelines outlined in this initiative primarily target raw material manufacturers. They are responsible for registering raw material safety information on the platform in accordance with relevant regulations and technical specifications, and should ensure the authenticity and completeness of the registered raw material safety information. Furthermore, these guidelines extend to affiliated companies or authorized entities entrusted with the production of raw materials.
Cosmetic registrants and filers bear the main responsibility for the quality and safety of their products. In case of any concerns, such as authenticity or integrity issues, the registrants and filers have the option to supplement the safety information or provide clarifications, using their own reporting methods.
Authorized entity for raw materials safety information submission
Cosmetic raw material manufacturers can submit the safety information themselves or authorize domestic or overseas legal entities to submit and maintain the information. However, the safety information of the same raw material can only be authorized by one entity. The authorized entity can be the actual manufacturer of the raw material, an affiliated company under the same group as the actual manufacturer, or the entity responsible for contract manufacturing of the raw material.
Filling Procedures and Requirements
To comply with the regulations, cosmetic raw material manufacturers can either submit their own safety information or authorize domestic or foreign entities to do so on their behalf. In both cases, specific documentation such as enterprise information forms, proof of corporate identity, and authorization letters must be provided. Foreign manufacturers must also undergo notarization or obtain confirmation from Chinese authorities.
Generation and Application of Submission Code
Upon successful registration of raw material safety information on the platform, a unique reporting code is automatically generated. This code comprises components such as the serial number from the “Used Cosmetic Ingredients Catalog,” raw material manufacturer code, and registration serial number on the raw material platform. It is important to note that this code is only shared between the raw material manufacturer and the cosmetic registrant or filer, not made publicly available.
Further information
Read the original NIFDC announcement on the draft guidelines for filling in the cosmetic raw materials safety information registration platform.
Read our article on the draft guidelines for reporting cosmetics formulas released by the NIFDC on May 4, 2023.
Contact us to learn more about our cosmetics services in China.
