On July 29, 2026, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China issued the “Announcement of the National Medical Products Administration on Matters Concerning the Registration and Notification of Cosmetics (2026 No. 70)”, which includes provisions exempting certain categories of special cosmetics from the requirement to submit animal testing data.
For special cosmetics, including hair perming products, non-oxidative hair dye products, and freckle-removing/whitening products that achieve their effect solely through physical coverage, as well as general cosmetics (excluding cosmetics intended for children) that contain new cosmetic ingredients, the submission of toxicological test reports for the product may be exempted at the time of registration or notification, provided that:
- the manufacturer has obtained a relevant qualification certificate for its production quality management system issued by the competent government authority of the country or region where the manufacturer is located; and
- the results of the product safety risk assessment are sufficient to fully confirm the safety of the product.
In accordance with developments in scientific research, the cosmetic technical review department of the NMPA may, through the formulation of technical guidelines, adjust the scope of products eligible for exemption from animal testing in a timely manner.