Are perm products filed or registered for the China market?

Perm products are registered, not filed, for the China mainland market. Cosmetics used for perming hair are special cosmetics. The classification rules describe a perm product as one used to change the curl of hair—curling or straightening—and to keep that change relatively stable. A product that returns to the original form after washing is not classified as a perm product. For general-trade import of a finished product, complete the required filing or registration before import, appoint a Domestic Responsible Person, and apply a Chinese label that meets the Cosmetics Labeling Rules. Customs and inspection-quarantine formalities are a separate process. Cross-border e-commerce retail import is a different channel with list, platform and personal-use limits; it is not a blanket “no filing” rule and not a path to unrestricted domestic resale.

Published 11 November 2026 · Updated 11 November 2026

How to judge the path

Look at the chemistry and the lasting effect. Reducing-agent waving systems that break and reform hair bonds to curl hair are typical perm products.

Chemical straighteners that change curl and keep the new shape relatively stable are assessed on the same perm classification, which expressly includes straightening. See whether a hair-straightening product is treated as a perm product.

Ordinary styling creams or heat-protect sprays that only create a temporary look usually remain ordinary hair care if they do not have that lasting waving function.

Typical documents, tests and labels

Prepare a special-cosmetics registration dossier and the required tests. For perm registration, testing is about 35 working days and review is about 8 months after testing is finished. Actual time depends on completeness and supplementary requests. Do not use the about 10–20 day ordinary-filing cycle.

Announcement No. 70 of 2026 describes a toxicology-report waiver for perm products when the manufacturer has a government-issued quality-system certificate and the safety assessment can fully confirm safety. Apply those conditions as written. Jinshang Testing organizes the compliance work. Testing is coordinated with partner laboratories, and those laboratories issue the reports they perform. After a record is issued, check it on the official NMPA filing query https://hzpba.nmpa.gov.cn/gccx/ and the NMPA data-search page https://datasearch.nmpa.gov.cn/datasearch/home-index.html#category=hzp.

Cautions

Perm agents such as thioglycolates are restricted ingredients and must be used within the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics, including the required warnings.

Do not borrow the ordinary shampoo or conditioner timeline.

Questions we are often asked

Is a curl-enhancing conditioner a perm product?

Usually not, if it only conditions hair and any curl effect disappears after washing. If it chemically changes curl and keeps that change relatively stable, assess it as a perm special cosmetic.

Does salon-only use avoid registration?

No. A perm product placed on the China mainland market, including professional salon sale or use as a marketed product, still follows special-cosmetics registration.