Q&As on Ordinary Cosmetics Filing in Guangzhou (Vol. 53)

We have collected the latest FAQs on ordinary cosmetics filing from the Guangzhou Administration for Market Regulation and translated them into English for your reference.

1. Which essential oil products do not belong to cosmetics?

According to the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulations, cosmetics are defined as daily chemical industrial products used on the human body's surface such as skin, hair, nails, and lips through methods like rubbing, spraying, or other similar ways, for the purpose of cleaning, protecting, beautifying, and modifying. When the method of use, purpose of use and areas of application of essential oil products meet the definition of cosmetics, they belong to cosmetics. However, essential oil products used for aromatherapy, claiming medical effects, or for purposes such as scenting, air purification, and aiding sleep, do not fall under the category of cosmetics.

2. How to file massage essential oil cosmetics?

According to Article 35 of the“Provisions on the Management of Cosmetic Registration and Filing Data”, products that contain two or more parts that must be used together, or whose packaging containers cannot be separated, should have each formulation filled out separately and be registered or filed as a single product.

3. What should be noted regarding the naming and claims of essential oil cosmetics?

Cosmetics should not explicitly or implicitly suggest having medical effects and should avoid confusion in product characteristics and appearance with food, medicines, and other products. The names of essential oil cosmetics should avoid using the names of medical celebrities or medical terminology, such as Zhongjing, Hua Tuo, Consolidate the foundation and cultivate the root energy, Warm nourishment and invigoration of the meridians, etc.; their intended application areas should comply with the definition of cosmetics, and must not describe special areas such as joints or acupoints in text or diagrams; in terms of efficacy, claims like conditioning and nourishing the body, promoting circulation and vitality, and soothing the mind and body should not be made.

4. How should safety assessments be conducted for essential oil products?

According to Clause 7.1.1 of the "Technical Guidelines for Cosmetic Safety Assessment (2021 Edition)," the safety assessment of cosmetic products should be exposure-oriented, it should take into account the product's mode of use, application areas, quantities used, and levels of exposure to residues, to ensure the safety of the product. For products that are used in combination of two or more doses, an assessment should be conducted on the components after mixing according to the usage method described in the instructions. When the components can also be used separately according to the usage method, they should be assessed individually.

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