Special cosmetics registration for imported products

Imported special cosmetics must be registered with the NMPA before they are produced or imported. The classification is the same as for China-made special cosmetics: products used for hair dyeing, perming, spot-removal or whitening, sun protection or preventing hair loss, and products that claim a listed new efficacy. Ordinary filing, including the about 10–20 day cycle, does not apply.

Published 11 November 2026 · Updated 11 November 2026

How to judge the path

Read the intended use and the claims, then the formula. An imported “daily moisturizer” that bears an SPF value is still a sunscreen special cosmetic. A product that claims both SPF and whitening must be prepared as a special cosmetic covering both claims.

What to prepare

Prepare the basic registration dossier, the import extras (responsible person, original packaging and translation, marketing proof unless exempted), a full safety-assessment report, and the category-specific tests. Registration periods we quote are review times after testing is finished: sunscreen review about 10–12 months; whitening about 12 months; hair-dye or perm about 8 months; anti-hair-loss about 12–16 months. Testing durations are listed on the special-registration service page and should be planned separately.

Cautions

Do not promise a combined “test-to-certificate” date by adding a few weeks to laboratory time. Supplementary requests and the longer human studies, especially for whitening and anti-hair-loss products, dominate the calendar.

Questions we are often asked

Can an imported special cosmetic be sold after filing while registration is pending?

No. Special cosmetics may be produced or imported only after registration. Filing is the wrong procedure.

Does Announcement No. 70 of 2026 cancel registration for some special cosmetics?

No. It adjusts certain documentation, including limited toxicology waivers for some product types when stated conditions are met. It does not turn those products into ordinary cosmetics.