Cosmetic testing requirements

The test report for the registration or filing of cosmetics must be issued by cosmetic registration and filing inspection institutions. The test report must conform with the requirements of the Technical Standards for Cosmetics, the Working Rules for Cosmetic Registration and Filing as well as other regulations. The test report should cover:

• Microbial Test Report;
• Physicochemical Test Report;
• Toxicological Test Report;
• Human Safety Test Report; and
• Cosmetic Efficacy Test Report.

Conditions under which toxicological tests are exempted

• Ordinary cosmetics manufacturers that have obtained the production quality management system certification issued by the local government (regional); and
• The product safety risk assessment results can fully confirm the product safety – if there is more than one manufacturer and all manufacturers have obtained relevant qualification certifications issued by the competent authorities.

Toxicological tests cannot be exempted in one of the following circumstances

• Products to be used by infants and children;
• The product uses new cosmetic ingredients which are still under safety monitoring; and
• The filers, domestic responsible persons, and the manufacturers are under priority supervision according to the results of quantitative grading and scoring.

Testing Items

Physicochemical testing

• Heavy metals;
• Asbestos, methanol, dioxane, diethylene glycol, phenol, free formaldehyde, pesticide residues, benzene, and PH value;
• Sunscreen agents, hair dyes, preservatives, and colorants;
• Hormones, anti-infective drugs, fragrance allergens, residual organic solvents, plastic microbeads

Microbial testing

Total colony count, total yeast and mold count, staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa and thermotolerant coliforms.

Toxicological tests

Alternative methods in toxicology

Eye irritation: Hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane test

Skin irritation/corrosion: Skin corrosion rat skin transcutaneous electrical resistance (TER) test, skin irritation test (In vitro reconstructed skin model), in-vitro skin corrosion (Human skin model)

Phototoxicity: In-vitro 3T3 neutral red uptake phototoxicity test

Skin sensitisation: Local lymph node assay (LLNA), direct peptide reactivity assay, ARE-Nrf2 luciferase test method, in vitro skin sensitisation assay for key event on activation of dendritic cells.

Acute oral toxicity: Fixed-dose acute toxicity procedures of chemicals

Acute inhalation toxicity: Acute inhalation toxicity test

Tests for full version safety assessments in China

According to the Technical Guidelines for Safety Assessment of Cosmetics 2021, cosmetics registrants and filers should conduct safety assessments by themselves or by entrusting professional institutions. Since 2022, the product safety assessment report must be submitted for cosmetics registration and filing. After May 1, 2025, a full version product safety assessment report is required.

The testing items cover:

• Challenge testing;
• Cosmetic packaging compatibility testing; and
• Stability testing.

Cosmetic efficacy test

According to the Supervision and Administration Regulations (CSAR), the efficacy claims of cosmetics should have a sufficient scientific basis. Cosmetics registrant and filer should publish a summary of the literature, research data or product efficacy evaluation information on the efficacy claims to the NMPA designated website for public supervision.

Cosmetic registrant and filer should be responsible for the scientificity, authenticity, reliability and traceability of the submitted summary of the basis for the efficacy claims.

Exemption of Efficacy Evaluation

• Sensory recognition by the way of visual or olfactory system

-ex. cleaning, makeup removal, beauty and modification, fragrance, refreshing, hair dye, hair perm, hair color care, depilation, deodorization, auxiliary shaving. etc.

• Physical effect by the way of covering, adhesion, friction

-ex. whitening, exfoliator, deep pore cleanser (labelled as having physical effect only)

Efficacy Evaluation Requirements of Cosmetics

The benefits of choosing us

• Perfect laboratory construction;
• Extensive experience in compliance with specifications;
• Excellent technical skills;
• Global service resources; and
• An elite international team.

Our team

CIRS Testing Cosmetic Laboratory has been accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) and China Metrology Accreditation (CMA). It is also accredited by the National Medical Products Administration.

With complete equipment and excellent technical competence, CIRS Testing Cosmetic Laboratory received recognition for its testing capabilities both at home and abroad. The Cosmetic Laboratory has created many patents, and has maintained close cooperation and in-depth communication with many national laboratories.

CIRS Testing Cosmetic Team is comprised of a marketing team, customer service team, regulatory compliance team as well as the laboratory, with a total of more than 60 staff. The team keeps on enhancing technical skills and improving its cosmetic service system. It is able to provide a one-stop service to clients, including cosmetic regulations consulting, registration/filing, safety efficacy evaluation, and testing.

If you have any needs or questions, please contact us at test@cirs-group.com.