On April 30, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration of China) issued National Standard Announcement No. 20 of 2026, officially approving the publication of the mandatory national standard Safety Technical Specification for Cleaning Products (GB 26396—2026). The standard will take effect on May 1, 2027, replacing the original recommended standard Technical Specification for Safety of Soaps and Detergents (GB/T 26396-2011), marking a comprehensive upgrade of China's safety standard system for cleaning products.
The standard applies to cleaning products manufactured, sold, and imported within China, establishing unified requirements for raw materials, safety indicators, labeling, and other technical specifications. Compared with the 2011 edition, the standard has been elevated from a recommended national standard to a mandatory national standard, meaning relevant products must comply with the standard requirements before they can be placed on the market.
Background and Key Points of the Standard
In recent years, the cleaning products market has seen diversification and increasingly refined consumer segments, with a growing variety of products. However, the industry has also faced challenges in improving its safety standard system. This revision upgrades the original recommended standard to a mandatory national standard, shifting from voluntary compliance to mandatory observance, significantly strengthening the legal binding force of product safety requirements. The standard covers the following key points:
Clarifying the Scope of Application
The standard focuses on widely used consumer cleaning products, including laundry detergents, laundry powders, and dishwashing detergents. Food-use cleaning agents, personal cleansing products (such as body washes, shampoos, and other cosmetic-category products), as well as medical, industrial cleaning agents, and dry cleaning solvents for special purposes are excluded from the scope, thereby avoiding overlap with regulatory systems for food safety, cosmetics, and other sectors.
Regulating Raw Material Admission Requirements
The standard sets clear admission conditions for raw materials used in cleaning products, requiring that raw materials meet applicable safety criteria. This ensures product safety is controlled at the source, guaranteeing that products do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment during use.
Establishing Pre-Market Safety Assessment Mechanisms
The standard requires manufacturers to assess, prior to placing products on the market, the scenarios and extent to which products may come into contact with human skin or eyes during use. Manufacturers must conduct safety assessments and adopt appropriate risk control measures based on the level of risk, minimizing the likelihood of harm to the greatest extent possible.
Impact on the Industry
The publication and implementation of this standard is of great significance to China's cleaning products industry. On one hand, the mandatory standard will effectively elevate the overall safety level of the industry, regulate market competition, and phase out products that fail to meet safety requirements. On the other hand, it will also drive enterprises to increase investment in technology R&D and enhance product quality and safety management capabilities.
CIRS Reminder
CIRS Group advises relevant enterprises to closely monitor the publication of the official standard text, promptly conduct product compliance self-assessments, and comprehensively review raw material procurement, product formulations, safety assessments, and other aspects to ensure a smooth compliance transition before the standard takes effect.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.
Our Services
- China Cosmetics Registration and Filing
- China New Cosmetic Ingredients Registration and Filing
- China Toothpaste Filing
- China Cosmetics Safety and Efficacy Test
- Being Domestic Responsible Person
- Safety Evaluation Report
- Cosmetic Ingredient Quality and Safety Info Code Application
- Formula/Label/Ingredient Review
- Regulatory Consulting/Reporting/Training
- Custom Clearance
Further Information:
