This article compiles data on cosmetic supervision as well as sampling inspections conducted within China and updates related information for May 2025.
Cosmetic Supervision and Sampling Inspection Data
In May 2025, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released the 2024 Annual Report on National Cosmetic Sampling Inspection, covering sampling inspections of 12 categories of cosmetics, with a total of 21,362 batches inspected. The Anhui Provincial Medical Products Administration issued three public notices on the supervision and inspection of cosmetic production, involving a total of nine cosmetic-related enterprises.
NMPA Releases the 2024 Annual Report on National Cosmetic Sampling Inspection
On May 6, 2025, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) released the 2024 Annual Report on National Cosmetic Sampling Inspection. In 2024, drug regulatory authorities across the country organized sampling inspections covering 12 categories of cosmetics, including those claiming to treat acne, toothpastes, general skincare products, makeup products, freckle-removing and whitening products, and children's cosmetics. A total of 21,362 batches of products were inspected.
A total of 33 cosmetic testing institutions conducted inspections in accordance with the Technical Guidelines for Cosmetic Safety (2015 edition) and other relevant standards. Among the samples, 20,889 batches met the regulatory requirements, accounting for 97.79%. Products found to be non-compliant were investigated and handled by local drug regulatory departments in accordance with the law, and those suspected of criminal offenses were transferred to public security authorities. Sampling was mainly conducted through on-site sampling and online sampling. Among the 12 categories of cosmetics inspected, the compliance rate for six categories -including those claiming to treat acne, toothpastes, general skincare products, makeup products, freckle-removing and whitening products, and children's cosmetics-all exceeded 99%.
https://www.nmpa.gov.cn/hzhp/hzhpjgdt/20250520093605132.html?3jfdxVGGVXFo=1748240468933
Public Notices on Cosmetic Production Supervision and Inspection Issued by the Fifth Branch of Anhui Provincial Medical Products Administration (2025 Issue 1,2 and 3)
On May 6, May 19, and May 30, 2025, the Anhui Provincial Medical Products Administration issued three public notices regarding the supervision and inspection of cosmetic production, involving a total of nine cosmetic-related enterprises. Among them, seven enterprises received the inspection conclusion of "Basically Compliant (Deficiencies in the Quality Management System for Production)", while two enterprises were concluded as "Non-Compliant (Serious Deficiencies in the Quality Management System for Production)." All of the aforementioned enterprises were required to complete rectification within a specified time limit.
Information Sharing
On May 22, 2025, the Shaanxi Provincial Medical Products Administration released the 2025 Provincial Cosmetic Supervision and Inspection Plan. The inspections will adhere to four key principles: enhancing efficiency, emphasizing risk management, strengthening inspections in key areas, and ensuring the effective operation of regulatory mechanisms.
By implementing tiered and categorized inspections, coordinated enforcement actions, and off-site inspections, the plan aims to optimize the allocation of regulatory resources and improve regulatory effectiveness. The scope and key focuses of the inspections include:
- Inspection of plant-derived foot care products
- Supervision of cosmetic registrants and filers
- Inspections of the production process
- Inspections of the distribution/retail process
- Cause-based (for-cause) inspections.
On May 30, 2025, the Zhejiang Provincial Medical Products Administration announced that, in order to effectively ensure the quality and safety of children's skincare products ahead of International Children's Day (June 1), the Beilun District Administration focused on the operation of children's cosmetics, aiming to regulate market order and strengthen the safety barrier for children's cosmetic use.
This inspection primarily targeted cosmetic specialty stores, maternal and infant product stores, and large supermarkets, with a focus on key product categories such as children's cosmetics, children's toothpaste, and children's creams. The campaign involved a thorough investigation into the implementation of purchase inspection record systems by business entities, with special attention to verifying the registration and filing information of children's cosmetics. It also strictly examined whether the “Little Golden Shield” logo on product packaging was properly labeled, and assessed the compliance of product labeling and efficacy claims. As of May 29, a total of 32 cosmetic business units had been inspected. Five issues were identified and rectified, and one case involving problematic imported children's cosmetics was placed under investigation.
On May 30, 2025, the Jiangsu Provincial Medical Products Administration announced that the municipal and district-level market supervision bureaus in Wuxi carried out a special sampling inspection of children’s cosmetics, with all 85 sampled batches passing inspection. The sampled categories included general skincare products (creams and lotions), facial masks, baby powder, bath products, and shampoos. The inspection focused on items specified in the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, including lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, total bacterial count, thermotolerant coliforms, total mold and yeast count, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, boric acid and borates, 63 types of hormonal ingredients, 36 types of anti-infective drugs, 51 types of raw materials including desloratadine, 23 preservatives such as methylchloroisothiazolinone, 17 components including zinc pyrithione, and acrylamide.
About CIRS
The CIRS cosmetic team is dedicated to ensuring that cosmetic products meet stringent global regulatory standards. It can provide one-stop services covering the whole life-cycle of a personal care product, which includes cosmetic ingredient development, physical/chemical tests, toxicological tests (in vivo & in vitro), efficacy studies (in vivo & in vitro), ingredient registration, and product registration.
Cosmetic services in China:
- China Cosmetic Registration and Filing;
- China New Cosmetic Ingredient Registration and Filing;
- China Cosmetic Ingredient Quality and Safety Information Code Application (NMPA Code);
- China Cosmetics Safety and Efficacy Test;
- China Cosmetic Safety Assessment Report;
- China Toothpaste Filing;
- China Disinfectant Notification; and
- China Cosmetic Formula/Label/Claim Review
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.
