Cosmetics

Australia TGA Webinar On Proposed Reforms To Sunscreen Regulation

Australia’s medicines regulator has released a webinar and slide deck explaining consultation proposals to tighten sunscreen testing, labelling, cosmetic SPF claims and manufacturing guidance, with feedback invited from industry and other stakeholders. If implemented, these options could materially raise expectations on SPF evidence, laboratory accreditation and product labelling for sunscreen sponsors and manufacturers in Australia, so teams should review the proposals and prepare for tighter oversight.

23 May 2026, 19:39tga.gov.auAustralia

Australia TGA Orders Veganic SKN To Cease Supply And Relabel Unapproved Therapeutic Sunscreens

Australia’s medicines regulator has issued an enforceable direction requiring Veganic SKN to cease supplying and either relabel or destroy a large portfolio of white‑labelled therapeutic sunscreens that are treated as unregistered, with binding cease‑supply and relabelling/destruction deadlines in April and October 2026. This signals a tougher enforcement stance on ARTG listing and labelling compliance for sunscreens and similar listed medicines, increasing regulatory risk for contract manufacturers and private‑label brands that rely on shared AUST L entries without aligning product names to the Register.

23 May 2026, 19:31tga.gov.auAustralia

European Commission Reports 65% Non-Compliance in 2025 E-Commerce Cosmetics Inspections

In May 2026 the European Commission reported that coordinated 2025 customs and market-surveillance checks of e-commerce cosmetics across all EU Member States inspected almost 3,600 products and found an average non-compliance rate of about 65%. This highlights intense and growing regulatory scrutiny of online cosmetics and foreshadows tighter EU customs and market-surveillance frameworks, raising enforcement risk for brands, importers and platforms selling into the EU.

23 May 2026, 09:13europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

New York Assembly Advances Baby Cosmetic Carcinogen Warning Bill A11360 To Rules Committee

On 20 May 2026, the New York State Assembly advanced Bill A11360, which would require ingredient and carcinogen-warning labels on infant cosmetic products, by reporting it from Codes to the Rules Committee. If enacted, baby cosmetic manufacturers and retailers selling into New York would need to redesign packaging, implement clear ingredient disclosure and cancer warnings, and be ready to comply within roughly six months of the law taking effect.

23 May 2026, 08:56assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

EU SCCS Adopts Corrigendum to Final Opinion on Silver in Cosmetic Products

EU scientific experts have finalised and corrected their opinion on the safe use of micron-sized silver in cosmetics, confirming specific maximum concentrations and updating exposure calculations for hand creams. This guidance will steer how the EU Cosmetics Regulation is applied to silver ingredients, shaping formulation limits and future regulatory decisions for cosmetics manufacturers.

22 May 2026, 18:49health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council 4-Column Table (ST_9215_2026_INIT) on Proposal To Simplify CLP, Cosmetics and Fertilising Products Rules

On 13 May 2026 the EU Council circulated an internal four-column table (ST 9215 2026 INIT) on the chemicals simplification omnibus proposal to amend the CLP, Cosmetics and Fertilising Products regulations. This signals that negotiations on streamlining EU chemicals, cosmetics and fertiliser rules have moved into detailed text comparison, but no final obligations or compliance timelines are yet settled for companies.

22 May 2026, 16:48consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

US FDA Issues Warning Letter To La Crema De Rebeca Over Mercury-Containing Skin Cream

In May 2026, the US FDA issued a warning letter to La Crema De Rebeca over a mercury-containing skin lightening cream marketed online as an unapproved and misbranded drug. The action underscores heightened enforcement against unsafe cosmetic and drug products and forces the company—and similar marketers of skin treatments—to strengthen product safety, labelling, and compliance controls.

20 May 2026, 19:59fda.govUnited States

Uganda Notifies WTO of Draft African Standards for Paints and Lip Cosmetics (G/TBT/N/UGA/2365–2371)

Uganda has notified seven draft African standards for paints and lip cosmetics to the WTO, opening a 60-day comment period to 12 July 2026 ahead of their adoption as national product standards. These proposals would tighten and harmonise performance and safety specifications for architectural paints and lip products in Uganda, so manufacturers and importers will need to review formulations, heavy metal limits, labelling and testing against the new drafts in preparation for future compliance.

20 May 2026, 17:48eping.wto.orgUganda

China NMPA Incorporates Test Methods for Cannabidiol and Other Ingredients Into Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification (2015 Edition)

China’s National Medical Products Administration has issued Announcement No. 1 of 2026 to incorporate five supplementary test methods, including for cannabidiol in cosmetics, into the national Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics (2015 Edition). This strengthens regulatory oversight of cannabis-derived and other cosmetic raw materials in China by clarifying the official test methods that laboratories and manufacturers must follow for compliance assessments.

20 May 2026, 10:03nmpa.gov.cnChina

Illinois Senate Sets Third Reading for Chemicals in Cosmetic Products Act (HB3409)

In May 2026, the Illinois Senate scheduled third reading of HB3409 (Chemicals in Cosmetic Products Act), a bill that would ban specified hazardous ingredients, including certain PFAS, from cosmetics sold in the state from July 2028. If enacted, this would significantly tighten ingredient restrictions for cosmetics brands and retailers in Illinois, requiring portfolio review, reformulation, and supply chain screening well ahead of the 2028 effective date.

20 May 2026, 10:02ilga.govUnited States

EU Commission Corrects Annex III Entry 380 in Cosmetics CMR Omnibus VIII Regulation (EU) 2026/78

In May 2026 the EU published a corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/78 (the CMR Omnibus VIII Cosmetics Regulation) clarifying the Annex III product-type description for entry 380 in the Cosmetics Regulation. The change confirms that body care products for children under three are explicitly covered alongside other listed cosmetics, so companies using the affected substances should check that their formulations and labelling remain aligned with the corrected Annex III conditions.

20 May 2026, 10:01eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

United States: PFAS Litigation and 14 State Cosmetic Bans Reshape Beauty Industry Compliance

A May 2026 Crowell & Moring client alert warns that rising PFAS class actions and 14 US state bans or restrictions on PFAS in cosmetics are rapidly reshaping compliance expectations for the beauty and personal care sector. Companies selling nationwide will increasingly need to reformulate products, strengthen supply-chain transparency and track diverging state rules to avoid enforcement, litigation and loss of access to key markets.

20 May 2026, 08:28crowell.comUnited States

EU Parliament Questions Commission on Lead in Tampons and Hygiene Product Safety

On 7 May 2026, an MEP submitted a written question urging the European Commission to respond to findings of lead contamination in tampons and to explain whether EU rules such as REACH sufficiently protect consumers from this risk. The intervention signals rising political pressure that could lead to closer scrutiny, risk assessments, or future regulatory tightening on lead and other harmful substances in intimate hygiene products, with implications for manufacturers and brands operating in the EU.

20 May 2026, 07:09europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Puglia Region Approves 2026 Chemical and Biocide Control Plan (DGR 540/2026)

Puglia has approved its 2026 regional plan to implement national REACH, CLP, biocides and cosmetics control programmes through targeted inspections and monitoring of chemical products. Businesses manufacturing, importing, distributing or using these products in the region should expect more structured checks on labelling, safety data sheets, restrictions and authorised active substances, and ensure documentation and compliance systems are robust ahead of inspections.

20 May 2026, 07:05burp.regione.puglia.itItaly

UK OPSS Recalls Multiple Savers Fragrances Containing Prohibited Cosmetic Allergens

In May 2026, the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards published a recall notice for 15 branded fragrances sold by Savers Health and Beauty after they were found to contain banned fragrance allergens presenting a serious chemical risk. Retailers and brand owners should check for overlap with the recalled SKUs, remove any affected stock, and strengthen controls on cosmetic ingredient compliance under the Cosmetics Regulation to avoid similar enforcement action.

20 May 2026, 06:22gov.ukUnited Kingdom

China NMPA Launches Cosmetics Electronic Labelling Pilot Programme

China’s National Medical Products Administration has launched a three-year pilot programme from February 2026 for electronic labelling of cosmetics in selected provinces, backed by detailed technical and regulatory requirements for QR codes, digital content and data submission. Cosmetics companies considering participation will need to upgrade labelling and IT systems to meet China’s cosmetics, cybersecurity and data rules, manage dual physical–electronic label obligations, and monitor provincial implementation, enforcement and future nationwide roll-out.

20 May 2026, 05:39english.nmpa.gov.cnChina

China NMPA Incorporates Three Revised Standards Into Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification (Announcement No.48 of 2026)

China’s NMPA has issued Announcement No.48 (15 May 2026) incorporating revised standards for o-phenylphenol and its salts, Acid Violet 43 (CI 60730) and mercury compounds into the national Cosmetics Safety Technical Specification, with implementation dates in July 2026 and June 2028. Cosmetics registrants and manufacturers should review formulations and testing for these substances and plan to implement the new standards ahead of the respective 2026 and 2028 effective dates to avoid non-compliance.

19 May 2026, 15:28nmpa.gov.cnChina

South Korea MFDS Amends Regulation on Reporting of Cosmetics Production, Import and Ingredient Lists

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has adopted a May 2026 amendment that tightens how cosmetics production, import and ingredient-list reporting is monitored and enforced under the national Cosmetics Act. Responsible cosmetic businesses now face greater follow-up and potential on-site inspections for non-reporting, while compliant firms can benefit from preferential recognition, so companies should review reporting workflows and data quality controls with local partners.

18 May 2026, 14:54mfds.go.krSouth Korea

Argentina Incorporates MERCOSUR Technical Regulation Updating Banned Substances List for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Argentina’s regulator ANMAT has adopted Disposition 2820/2026 to incorporate MERCOSUR Resolution GMC 27/25, updating the national list of substances banned in cosmetics and personal care products, with publication in the Official Gazette on 15 May 2026. Cosmetics and personal care manufacturers and importers now have a short 60‑day window to confirm that formulations comply with the revised banned list, adjust product portfolios, and plan any necessary reformulations for continued access to the Argentine and wider MERCOSUR market.

18 May 2026, 13:26cda.org.arArgentinaMERCOSUR

South Korea MFDS, KIPO and Korea Customs Launch Joint Inspections of Suspected Counterfeit Cosmetics Sold via Overseas Online Platforms

In May 2026, South Korea’s MFDS, KIPO and Korea Customs launched a joint campaign to intensify safety inspections of suspected counterfeit cosmetics sold via overseas online platforms. The initiative signals tougher scrutiny of cross-border e-commerce channels and higher enforcement risk for grey-market and fake cosmetics entering Korea, pushing brands and distributors to reassess online supply chains and brand protection measures.

15 May 2026, 14:42cosmetic.chemlinked.comSouth Korea