Cosmetics

Shanghai Customs and MPA Launch Electronic Label Pilot for Imported Cosmetics in Pudong

From 11 May 2026, Shanghai Customs and the Shanghai Municipal Medical Products Administration will enforce an electronic-label pilot for selected imported cosmetics entering through Pudong ports. Importers and their agents must adjust customs declarations and packaging controls to meet new QR-based labelling checks, signalling a shift toward more digital, data-driven supervision of cosmetic imports that could later expand beyond Shanghai.

11 May 2026, 12:06cosmetic.chemlinked.comChina

China NMPA Announces 44 Batches of Non-Compliant Cosmetics (Announcement No. 16, 2026)

China’s National Medical Products Administration has issued Announcement No. 16 of 2026 reporting 44 batches of cosmetics that do not comply with regulatory requirements. Cosmetics brands and distributors should review the official notice to see if they are named and assess any resulting sales, enforcement, and reputational risks in the Chinese market.

11 May 2026, 12:04nmpa.gov.cnChina

Lithuania NVSC Launches Enforcement Register and Banned Cosmetic Products Lists

From May 2026, Lithuania’s National Public Health Centre is publishing a consolidated online register of enforcement measures against economic operators and year-by-year lists of cosmetic products banned from the national market under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. This increases transparency around Lithuanian enforcement practice and gives cosmetic manufacturers, importers, and distributors a single point of reference to check for product-specific bans and understand the documentation and labelling standards regulators expect.

11 May 2026, 11:57nvsc.lrv.ltLithuania

Andean Community Bans Bimatoprost in Cosmetic Products

In 2026, the Andean Community’s General Secretariat adopted Resolution 2579 banning the use of Bimatoprost as a cosmetic ingredient across Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Cosmetics companies must rapidly identify and reformulate any Bimatoprost-containing products, update sanitary notifications, and plan stock run-down within the one-year transition window or face automatic cancellation of approvals and enforced market withdrawal.

11 May 2026, 11:42controlsanitario.gob.ecBoliviaColombiaEcuadorPeru

Argentina Incorporates Mercosur Technical Regulations on Domisanitary and Cosmetic Products

Argentina’s medicines and health products regulator ANMAT has adopted new 2026 dispositions incorporating Mercosur technical regulations on domisanitary (household cleaning and disinfectant) products and on restricted cosmetic ingredients, aligning national rules with Resolutions GMC 36/22 and 35/22. This will reset the legal baseline for home-care and personal-care formulations, tighten conditions for substances like zinc pyrithione and climbazole, and foreshadow coordinated entry into force across Mercosur once all States have transposed the measures.

11 May 2026, 11:40cda.org.arArgentina

China GACC Adopts New Measures on Inspection and Quarantine of Import and Export Cosmetics

China’s customs authority has adopted new Administrative Measures governing the inspection, quarantine and supervision of imported and exported cosmetics, issued in May 2026 and applying from 1 December 2026. These rules tighten and clarify responsibilities, procedures and risk-based oversight for cosmetics, soaps, toothpaste and semi-finished products in cross-border supply chains, so companies should reassess product classification, documentation and customs-facing compliance processes well ahead of entry into force.

11 May 2026, 11:40cosmetic.chemlinked.comChina

South Korea MFDS Pilots Phased Cosmetic E-Labelling System Ahead of Planned Cosmetics Act Amendment

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has run two pilots of a QR code-based electronic labelling system for cosmetics and intends to amend the Cosmetics Act in mid-2026 as a step toward making e-labelling mandatory after 2027. This signals a structural shift in Korean cosmetic labelling, so brands should start building compliant digital label content and accessibility features now to avoid disruption when the framework becomes a legal requirement.

11 May 2026, 11:40cosmetic.chemlinked.comSouth Korea

Brazilian Senate To Analyse Bill Banning Plastic Microbeads in Cosmetics and Hygiene Products

In May 2026, Brazil’s Federal Senate received Bill PL 2.157/2026, a nationwide proposal to ban the manufacture, import and sale of personal care products and cosmetics containing intentionally added plastic microbeads. If enacted, this would force brands, contract manufacturers and suppliers serving the Brazilian market to phase out microplastics in rinse-off formulations, tighten ingredient transparency and anticipate similar controls in other jurisdictions.

11 May 2026, 11:39www25.senado.leg.brBrazil

Netherlands RIVM Publishes Report on (Meth)acrylates in Nail Products

In May 2026 the Dutch RIVM published an inventory showing that (meth)acrylate ingredients in gel and acrylic nail products continue to drive significant allergy risks despite existing restrictions on HEMA and di-HEMA TMHDC. The report is being used to inform EU Cosmetics Regulation discussions and signals likely pressure for clearer labelling and tighter controls on methacrylate use in nail and other cosmetic products, affecting formulations, professional-only segmentation, and compliance strategies.

10 May 2026, 19:07rivm.nlNetherlands

Thailand FDA Issues Guidance on Temporary Facilitation Measures for Cosmetics

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration has issued guidance and application templates, effective 28 April 2026, implementing temporary facilitation measures that relax some cosmetic notification steps in response to supply chain disruptions. These measures allow certain raw material and packaging changes without re-notification and expand fast-track and case-by-case review routes, giving cosmetic brands more flexibility but requiring careful adherence to the specified procedures to remain compliant.

9 May 2026, 19:11fda.moph.go.thThailand

China NMPA Clarifies Filing Data Requirements for Simplified Toothpaste Filings (Announcement 2025 No.124)

In December 2025 China’s National Medical Products Administration clarified that toothpaste products using the simplified filing route may rely on documented safe-use history and safety assessments instead of certain toxicology tests, under the existing cosmetics and toothpaste regulatory framework. This easing of dossier requirements reduces testing burdens for existing toothpaste lines but still demands robust safety evidence, so manufacturers and importers should reassess filing portfolios, data packages, and timelines to ensure continued compliance.

9 May 2026, 14:16nmpa.gov.cnChina

EU Corrigendum Corrects Annex II Entry Number for Triphenyl Phosphate Ban in Cosmetics

In May 2026 the European Commission published a corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/909, correcting the Annex II reference number for the new prohibition of Triphenyl Phosphate in cosmetic products under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. This administrative fix ensures Annex II entry 1767 is clearly associated with Triphenyl Phosphate, leaving the underlying ban and phase-out deadlines unchanged but reducing the risk of misapplication by regulatory, labelling and product development teams.

9 May 2026, 14:15eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

New Hampshire Senate Tables HB 1544 Scented Products Ban in State Buildings

In May 2026 the New Hampshire Senate tabled HB 1544, a bill that would require fragrance-free cleaning and personal-care products and ban fragrance-dispensing devices in public areas of state-owned or operated buildings. This pause in the bill’s progress removes any immediate compliance obligations but signals rising occupational health and indoor air-quality scrutiny of fragranced products used in government facilities and potentially by contracted service providers.

9 May 2026, 14:09gc.nh.govUnited States

European Parliament Questions Commission On Misleading Names In Cosmetics

Members of the European Parliament have asked the European Commission whether using animal-protein names such as “keratin” for plant-based cosmetic ingredients complies with EU rules on cosmetic claims and whether similar protections to those in food law should apply. This written question does not itself change any obligations but signals potential future tightening of how cosmetic marketing claims and ingredient names are regulated, which could affect branding and labelling strategies for plant-based formulations.

9 May 2026, 07:17europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EU SCCS Publishes Minutes From Working Group on Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products (15 April 2026)

In May 2026, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety published minutes from its working group meeting on nanomaterials in cosmetic products, detailing ongoing assessments of titanium dioxide (nano and non-nano) and synthetic amorphous silica (nano). The minutes confirm that these nanomaterial safety evaluations remain in progress and will align with forthcoming EFSA nano guidance, so cosmetic manufacturers using TiO2 or SAS should monitor for future SCCS opinions while noting that this document alone does not introduce new regulatory obligations.

8 May 2026, 10:55health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Industry Submission Challenges ECHA RAC STOT RE 1 Classification for Synthetic Amorphous Silica (SAS)

In March 2025, ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee adopted an opinion recommending a CLP STOT RE 1 inhalation classification for synthetic amorphous silica (SAS), and an EU cosmetics-focused industry submission has now challenged the opinion’s scientific basis, scope and relevance to real-world exposure. If this classification is carried through into a binding CLP update, it could significantly constrain SAS use in cosmetics and related products, forcing difficult reformulation and substitution decisions and heightening the need to align CLP outcomes with the parallel SCCS safety assessment under the EU Cosmetics Regulation.

8 May 2026, 07:52circabc.europa.euEuropean Union

WHO Behavioural Insights Toolkit Helps Countries Address Harmful Skin‑Lightening Practices

In May 2026 the World Health Organization highlighted a behavioural insights toolkit to help countries address harmful skin-lightening practices and support elimination of mercury-containing cosmetics. The toolkit signals stronger global expectations that regulators and health authorities will tighten controls on hazardous ingredients in skin-lightening products and design behaviour-change policies aligned with the Minamata Convention.

8 May 2026, 06:41who.intGlobal

EU SCCS Working Group Minutes Record New Mandates on Glyoxylic Acid and Hydroxycitronellal and Data Call for Phytonadione Epoxide

EU SCCS Working Group minutes from April 2026 record new scientific mandates on glyoxylic acid and hydroxycitronellal, an imminent data-call deadline for phytonadione epoxide, and key milestones for multiple cosmetic ingredient opinions and nanomaterial assessments. These steps foreshadow potential changes to permitted uses and concentration limits for several UV filters, hair-straightening agents, fragrances and silver- or nano-based ingredients in EU cosmetics, making timely data submissions and close monitoring of forthcoming SCCS opinions important for portfolio and compliance planning.

8 May 2026, 06:01health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Philippines FDA Issues Circular 2026-0001 Implementing ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Ingredient Amendments

In May 2026, the Philippine FDA issued Circular No.2026-0001 to implement ASEAN Cosmetic Directive ingredient and labelling amendments from recent ACC meetings, introducing new bans and stricter limits for UV filters, preservatives and other CMR or endocrine-active substances. Cosmetics manufacturers, importers and brands selling into the Philippines now face staged reformulation and withdrawal deadlines through 2025–2028, making early portfolio impact reviews and supplier alignment critical to avoid non-compliant products remaining on the market.

7 May 2026, 20:10fda.gov.phPhilippines

EU Commission Requests SCCS Safety Opinion on Glyoxylic Acid in Hair Straightening Cosmetics

In May 2026 the European Commission asked its Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety to assess whether the cosmetic ingredient glyoxylic acid is safe in hair straightening products, including at concentrations up to 16 percent, following toxicity concerns and a recent call for data. This scientific review under the EU Cosmetics Regulation could lead to future restrictions or conditions on how glyoxylic acid is used in cosmetic formulations, so manufacturers should monitor the SCCS opinion and prepare for possible reformulation needs.

7 May 2026, 07:45health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union