Checklists

Practical checklists citing official rules · tick, print or save as PDF

China cosmetics import: registration and filing checklist

Points to check before importing cosmetics into China, based on the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation and NMPA guidance on children's cosmetics.

16 items · as of 2026.10.19 · China Market Brief

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Classification and ingredients

Classified the product as special (hair dye, perm, whitening/spot, sunscreen, anti-hair-loss, new claimed efficacy) or generalCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 16 ↗
Special cosmetics are imported only after NMPA registration; imported general cosmetics are filed with NMPA before importCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 17 ↗
Checked for ingredients new to China; preservative, UV-filter, colourant, hair-dye and whitening new ingredients need registration, others need filing before useCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 11 ↗

Applicant and documents

Appointed a legal entity in China as domestic responsible person to handle registration/filing and assist with adverse-reaction monitoring and recallsCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 23 ↗
Prepared the dossier: applicant and manufacturer details, product name, formula or full ingredient list, applicable standard, label draft, test report, safety assessmentCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 19 ↗
Prepared proof the product is on sale in its country of production and evidence the overseas manufacturer meets cosmetics GMP. New products launched first in China, or simultaneously in China and elsewhere, may submit a China-first-launch commitment instead of proof of overseas saleRegulation Art. 19 · NMPA Notice No. 70 of 2026 ↗
Special cosmetics registration certificates last five years; renewal is filed at least 30 working days before expiryCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 24 ↗
Perms, non-oxidative hair dyes, whitening products that only cover physically, and general cosmetics using new ingredients (except children's products) may skip toxicology test reports (animal tests) when the manufacturer holds a government-issued quality-system certificate and the safety assessment confirms safetyNMPA Notice No. 70 of 2026 (effective 28 Jul 2026) ↗

Claims and labelling

Every efficacy claim has scientific support, and a summary of the evidence is published on the NMPA-designated websiteCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 22 ↗
The smallest sales unit carries a Chinese label; an added Chinese label matches the original labelCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 35 ↗
Label shows product name and special-cosmetics registration number, registrant/filer and contract manufacturer names and addresses, production licence number, standard number, full ingredients, net content, shelf life, directions and safety warningsCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 36 ↗
The label makes no express or implied medical claims and nothing false or misleadingCosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, Art. 37 ↗

Children's cosmetics

Products for children aged 12 and under, or implying child use (e.g. 'for all ages', 'whole family'), are regulated as children's cosmeticsNMPA consumer notice on children's cosmetics (28 Apr 2026) ↗
The 'Little Golden Shield' children's cosmetics mark is printed at the top left of a visible panel of the sales packNMPA consumer notice on children's cosmetics (28 Apr 2026) ↗
Includes a 'use under adult supervision' warning introduced by 'Caution' or 'Warning', and no 'food grade' or 'edible' wording or food imagesNMPA consumer notice on children's cosmetics (28 Apr 2026) ↗
Claims stay within the permitted list: cleansing, moisturising, hair care, sun protection, soothing and refreshing for ages 0-3; ages 3-12 may add make-up removal, make-up, fragrance and repairNMPA consumer notice on children's cosmetics (28 Apr 2026) ↗

Influencer (KOL) content: advertising disclosure checklist

Points to check before running influencer reviews or try-on content on Xiaohongshu, Douyin and similar platforms, based on China's Internet Advertising Measures, the Advertising Law and Xiaohongshu's Community Convention 2.0.

15 items · as of 2026.10.19 · China Market Brief

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Disclosure

Consumers can recognise the content as advertisingInternet Advertising Measures, Art. 9 ↗
Content promoting goods through tips, experience sharing or reviews with a purchase link is clearly marked '广告' (advertisement)Internet Advertising Measures, Art. 9 ↗

Roles and liability

The advertiser (brand) is responsible for truthful content; qualifications, licences and cited evidence are genuine and validInternet Advertising Measures, Art. 13 ↗
When the brand publishes ads on its own accounts or store pages, it keeps ad records for at least three years after publication endsInternet Advertising Measures, Art. 13 ↗
A live-streamer who recommends or vouches for goods in their own name or image carries the liability of an endorserInternet Advertising Measures, Art. 19 ↗
Endorsers do not recommend or vouch for products they have not usedAdvertising Law, Art. 38 ↗
Children under ten are not used as endorsersAdvertising Law, Art. 38 ↗

Wording

Unless it is a medical, drug or device ad, content makes no disease-treatment claims and avoids medical terms or wording that could be confused with drugs or devicesAdvertising Law, Art. 17 ↗
No cosmetics or beauty ads in media aimed at minorsAdvertising Law, Art. 40 ↗
Efficacy and service claims rest on scientific evidence or real experience, without exaggeration or invented featuresXiaohongshu Community Convention 2.0 (13 Oct 2026)

Xiaohongshu Community Convention 2.0

Business identity (brand, authorised distributor, buyer, individual seller) is stated on the profile, notes or live streams, using professional-account verificationXiaohongshu Community Convention 2.0 (13 Oct 2026)
No posing as ordinary users, bulk-raised accounts or hired writers to fake word of mouthXiaohongshu Community Convention 2.0 (13 Oct 2026)
No faked sales, reviews, likes or savesXiaohongshu Community Convention 2.0 (13 Oct 2026)
No steering users to other platforms or offline deals through unofficial toolsXiaohongshu Community Convention 2.0 (13 Oct 2026)
No disparaging competitors or spreading false informationXiaohongshu Community Convention 2.0 (13 Oct 2026)

Links beside each item point to the official document it is based on. Ticks are saved in this browser only. Not legal advice; check the latest official documents before acting.

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