Permitted Hair Dye List Set for Accelerated Expansion in China as NMPA Projects 27 Cosmetic Standards

In April 2026, the NMPA issued the 2026 Cosmetic Standards Project Plan, covering 27 standards across categories including cosmetic ingredients, product standards, and testing methods. Among them, 6 hair dye ingredient standards are particularly noteworthy. The NMPA has explicitly indicated that China's permitted hair dye list is expected to accelerate its expansion from the current 72 types, offering consumers a wider range of hair color choices. CIRS Group provides a detailed interpretation below.

Key Highlight: Accelerated Expansion of Permitted Hair Dyes, 6 Hair Dye Ingredient Standards Projected

Among the 27 standards, 6 "new" hair dyes are included: 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its sulfate, HC Blue No. 16, Acid Black 1 (CI 20470), Acid Orange 7 (CI 15510), Acid Red 52 (CI 45100), and Acid Blue 62 (CI 62045).

Notably, 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its sulfate and HC Blue No. 16 are widely and safely used overseas but are not yet included in the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China. This means that China will introduce these ingredients through the innovative pathway of standards conversion this year, further enriching the permitted hair dye list.

2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its sulfate is a hair dye used in oxidative hair coloring. Oxidative hair dye is currently the mainstream permanent hair coloring technology on the market. Oxidative hair dye cosmetics are generally used by mixing a colorant and an oxidant in a certain ratio, and the resulting color is not easily washed out, achieving permanent coloring. HC Blue No. 16 is a non-oxidative hair dye that does not require an oxidation-reduction reaction; the dye adheres to the hair surface through physical adsorption, achieving coloring without the need for mixing with an oxidant.

Acid Black 1 (CI 20470), Acid Orange 7 (CI 15510), Acid Red 52 (CI 45100), and Acid Blue 62 (CI 62045) are currently listed only in the "Permitted Colorants" list of China's Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, but not in the "Permitted Hair Dyes" list. Acid Black 1, Acid Orange 7, and Acid Blue 62 may be used as hair dye components in non-oxidative hair dye products in the EU, with a limit of 0.5%. Acid Red 52 may be used as a hair dye in the EU, with the following limits: (a) a maximum concentration of 1.5% when applied to hair after mixing under oxidative conditions; (b) a maximum concentration of 0.6% as a hair dye component in non-oxidative hair dye products.

In addition, Food Blue 2 (CI 42090), Food Yellow 4 (CI 19140), and Basic Violet 2 (CI 42520) from the 2025 Cosmetic Standards Project Plan are in a similar situation, having been widely applied in hair dye products in the EU.

The NMPA has indicated that China's permitted hair dye list is expected to accelerate its expansion from the current 72 types, offering consumers a wider range of hair color choices.

For more precise assessment of the regulatory status of cosmetic ingredients, companies may use the global cosmetics regulatory database-GlobalCosIng, which integrates cosmetic ingredient regulatory information from China, the EU, the US, Canada, ASEAN, South Korea, Japan, and other countries and regions.

Other Standards Overview: 5 Cosmetic Ingredient Standards, 2 Product Standards, and 5 Testing Method Standards

5 Cosmetic Ingredient Standards

The 27 standards include 5 cosmetic ingredient standards: Phenyl Methyl Pyrazolone, N-Acetylneuraminic Acid, Lauroyl Alanine, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, and 4-Hydroxyacetophenone.

Notably, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide is a commonly used preservative in the cosmetics field and is currently listed in China's Permitted Preservatives List. In January 2026, the NMPA issued Announcement No. 6 of 2026, incorporating 18 standard development and revision projects into the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition), including Polyaminopropyl Biguanide. Its maximum permitted concentration in cosmetics was reduced from 0.3% to 0.1%, and it is explicitly prohibited in products with potential inhalation risks, further clarifying the boundaries of use.

The NMPA plans to advance multiple ingredient standard development projects this year, aiming to effectively control the safety risks associated with ingredients by clarifying key technical specifications, thereby strengthening the foundation of cosmetic quality and safety from the source.

2 Product Standards and 5 Testing Method Standards

The 27 standards also include 2 product standards and 5 testing method standards.

2 Product Standards

Freeze-Dried Masks: Freeze-dried masks are an emerging mask category in recent years, utilizing vacuum freeze-drying technology to integrate mask solution and substrate into a single form, offering advantages such as high retention of active ingredients and convenient portability. With the rapid growth of the freeze-dried mask market, the industry urgently needs unified product standards to regulate production and quality requirements.

Rinse-Free Hair Cleansing Products: Rinse-free hair cleansing products refer to products that can achieve hair cleansing or oil and dandruff removal without water washing, covering categories such as dry shampoo sprays and no-rinse shampoos. However, their formulation systems and efficacy evaluation methods differ from traditional shampoo products, requiring dedicated product standards for regulation.

5 Testing Method Standards

Additionally, 5 testing method standards are included, covering ingredient and component testing in both cosmetics and toothpaste. The development of these testing method standards will further strengthen the testing and detection technology system for cosmetics and toothpaste, providing more precise and reliable technical support for safety regulation and helping companies improve internal quality control systems.

Complete List of the 2026 Cosmetic Standards Project Plan

On April 24, 2026, the Comprehensive Department of the NMPA issued the 2026 Cosmetic Standards Project Plan, covering a total of 27 cosmetic-related standards. Among them, the Determination Method for Water Resistance of Sunscreen Cosmetics is a revision standard, while the remaining 26 are new standards.

CIRS Reminder

The implementation of this standards project plan will continue to improve the cosmetic standard system, strengthen the foundation for industry standardized management, and provide technical support for cosmetic regulation and product safety assurance. Companies are advised to closely monitor the progress of standard development, including ingredient usage requirements, to ensure products comply with the latest technical specifications and to steadily advance compliant market entry.

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

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