Overview of the regulations on the management of cosmetics in China and South Korea, including cosmetic ingredients and finished products

China and South Korea represent a significant portion of the global cosmetics industry, and as such, understanding the regulatory requirements is the first step towards obtaining access to these ever-growing markets.

In China, the authorities have implemented one set of requirements for substances designated as cosmetic ingredients and a separate set of requirements for finished cosmetic products. While in South Korea, the focus of their cosmetic regulations is on the finished products, with the implementation of a standardised Korean ingredient inventory system for raw materials.

Beginning with China, there is a requirement to provide the safety information for each ingredient in a cosmetic product so as to obtain a code required for registration or filing of the finished product. To facilitate this, the authorities have implemented the use of the NMPA platform to improve the efficiency of cosmetic registration and filing and prevent the duplication of information – especially when the same ingredient is used in multiple products. In addition to this, China’s chemical regulations are intrinsically linked to the cosmetic ingredient regulations, meaning that the MEE Order 12 regulation (also known as China REACH) should also be considered when evaluating the ingredients. Furthermore, Chinese authorities also require the registration of finished cosmetic products –leading to a complex two or even three-step process depending on the ingredients and final products. Understanding these steps and the requirements associated with them is vital to ensuring successful compliance with the regulations and accessing China’s cosmetic market.

South Korea follows a similar pattern when it comes to its cosmetic regulations by requiring notification of any cosmetic ingredients that are not included in the Korean Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary. In addition to this, authorities also require registration of the final cosmetic product through the appointed market authorisation holder (MAH). Understanding the regulatory requirements and how to deal with them is an important step to removing the barriers to entry in this market.

This training course will provide insights into the relevant regulatory challenges faced by cosmetic ingredient and finished product suppliers that would like to expand and continue their business in the growing markets of China and South Korea.

By attending this training course, you will learn:

  • details of the current implementation of cosmetic ingredient registration in China;
  • details of the current implementation of finished cosmetic product registration in China;
  • the requirements for registration of cosmetics in China;
  • details of the current implementation of South Korean ingredient regulations;
  • details of the current implementation of South Korean finished product registration; and
  • the requirements for registration of cosmetics in South Korea.

What can you expect from the course?

  • A copy of all presentation materials
  • Access to the recording of each session
  • Q&A with our regulatory experts

Who should attend this course? 

  • Technical/scientific staff who work in the regulatory department
  • Authors of cosmetics product labels
  • Health and safety staff
  • Cosmetic goods safety advisors
  • Anyone wishing to develop an understanding of cosmetic regulations in China and South Korea

Is this a key topic of interest for your business? We can run this training course exclusively for your organization, as a tailored learning experience. Email us at events@chemicalwatch.com for more information