State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA of its former name in short is changed into CFDA, the short term of China Food and Drug Administration) released Technical Specifications for Security of Cosmetic on November 30 2012 (hereinafter referred to as Technical Specifications for Security.
It is analyzed by director of Beijing Oriental Chemical Information Co., Ltd. (OCI) as an advanced cosmetic application service provider of China, Technical Specifications for Security highlight “security” and “techniques”, propose stricter requirements on security of finished products of cosmetic, raw materials and production technique with the addition of requirements on security of raw materials of cosmetic, revise and perfect the list of banned and limited substance, all-purpose detection method, toxicology test methods and standards of evaluation on security of human body etc. when compared with Health Codes of Cosmetic made in 2007 so as to meet the needs of guiding cosmetic production enterprises to perform research, development and production activities, consumers to carry out scientific and rational use of products and supervision agency to carry out scientific supervision etc. with details indicated as follows:
I. Expansion of specified scope
Subdivide and enrich the “Health Codes of Cosmetic” made in 2007 and its relevant contents and comprehensively specify “Requirements on Raw Materials of Cosmetic” and “Technical Requirements on Security of Products” etc.
II. Adding the types of cosmetic and raw materials
The statement becomes stricter when compared with 5 ordinary categories and 9 special categories in traditional significance.
Special-purpose cosmetic refers to cosmetic for hair care, hair dye, perm, unhairing, breast beauty, fitness, removing beverage and sunscreen. 9 categories are classified as it seems in surface. However, with the launching of “asking for management suggestions for classification of non-special-purpose cosmetic” twice, the definitions of the 9 categories will be supplemented. For example, the products with universally acknowledged high risks at present on security or with the functions of skin whitening (except for the ones with the function of physical coverage only) or removing acne or inhibitory powder may be put into the administration of beverage-removing cosmetic.
Non-special-purpose cosmetic refers to the ones for hair care, hair dye, perm, unhairing, breast beauty, fitness, deodorization, beverage removal and sunscreen cosmetic (a strict definition).
In addition, raw materials of cosmetic can be classified into raw materials of cosmetic (or known as using raw materials), new raw materials (under first use), banned substance (ban their addition) and limited substance (with certain using conditions).
III. General requirements on security of cosmetic raw materials
1. The requirements on banned substance, general limiting substance and specific substance permitted for use in cosmetic shall conform to regulations specified in appendix 2 of Technical Specifications for Security. After releasing appendix 2, further analysis will be made.
2. The evaluation on security risks of raw materials of cosmetic is essential. After issuing evaluation guidelines for possibly existing security risk substance in cosmetic on August 23 2010, the evaluation on security of raw materials has been the focus of review by experts. The requirement added to the specifications highlights the focus on “security” of products as well.
3. The requirement on raw materials of cosmetic from plants and animals is added to legal documents. If such type of raw materials is contained in products, the first issue for consideration shall be the acquisition of certificate for approved use by the country of origin. If such type of raw materials is adopted as the main constituent of product, enterprises shall firstly consider the issue of compliance.
IV. General requirements on security of cosmetic
Quality requirement of microbiology is kept unchangeable, the limiting quantity of heavy metal is reduced and the residual limiting quantity of lead and arsenic in products are adjusted from 40mg/kg and 10mg/kg in Health Codes into 10mg/kg and 4mg/kg respectively. In fact, they will be changed with the changes of domestic and foreign supervision on security of cosmetic in the recent period, indicating that the quality requirement of end products will become stricter and stricter. In research and development of products, enterprises shall strictly follow the requirements to control indices of such harmful substance. In addition, the requirements on dioxan and asbestos are added as well.
V. Adding the requirements of naming and labeling
More specific instructions on packaging materials are made as well in the modification with the adding of naming and labeling requirements. For example, “labels of cosmetic cannot be marked with adaptations, publicity of curative effects, the use of medical terms or cheating or misleading consumers. Enterprises shall strictly follow the requirements without the announcement of “drug cosmetic” etc. In other instructions, clearer requirements are proposed on special-purpose cosmetic, non-special-purpose cosmetic, cosmetic for special groups of people and export cosmetic. As a result, the production, sales, circulation and supervision of cosmetic will become more normative with laws to be observed.
This revision refers to standards of European Community. The director also pointed out the formulation of Technical Specifications for Security would definitely enhance the barriers of the whole industry, requiring enterprises improving research and developing technologies, reducing and controlling possible harmful substance with stricter application of compliance. At the same time, our products will be produced and circulated at higher quality so as to ensure the interests of consumers.
