China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has introduced a broad set of changes to the registration and filing of cosmetics, covering areas ranging from animal testing and safety documentation to efficacy claims and changes in manufacturing arrangements. The Announcement on Matters Concerning Cosmetic Registration and Filing, released on 29 July 2026, introduces measures intended to...
South Korea has updated its guidance on alternative testing methods for cosmetics by officially recognising the KeraSkin™ reconstructed human skin model for phototoxicity assessments. The revision, announced by the Korea Cosmetic Industry Association (KCIA) on 29 July 2026, follows the completion of an update by the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS)....
The European regulatory framework for cosmetics continues to evolve to improve transparency, consumer information, and consistency across the single market. One of the latest updates concerns the European Cosmetic Ingredients Glossary, whose revised version became mandatory on 30 July 2026. Although this change does not introduce new restrictions on cosmetic ingredients or alter safety requirements,...
Environmental claims have become a common feature of cosmetic marketing. Terms such as natural, eco-friendly, planet-friendly, carbon neutral or sustainable packaging are increasingly used to attract consumers looking for products with a lower environmental impact. But as these claims have proliferated, so have concerns about their accuracy. To address this issue, the European Union is...
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched two new public consultations under the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, while also announcing a new harmonised classification intention for Butyrolactone. Although these regulatory actions are still at an early stage, they provide manufacturers with advance notice of substances that could become subject to new hazard...
Illinois has adopted new legislation that will prohibit the sale and manufacture of cosmetics containing a range of hazardous substances, marking another significant step in the tightening of chemical safety requirements across the United States. The Chemicals in Cosmetic Products Act (House Bill 3409) introduces restrictions on 24 ingredients, including certain PFAS compounds, formaldehyde, mercury...
Two ultraviolet (UV) filters are currently under scientific review by the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), highlighting the continued regulatory scrutiny applied to sunscreen ingredients. While no immediate legislative changes have been introduced, the outcomes of these evaluations could influence future amendments to the EU Cosmetics Regulation. The substances under review are...
California has expanded its chemical safety requirements by designating nail products containing triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) above specified concentrations as Priority Products under the state’s Safer Consumer Products (SCP) regulations. The measure, adopted by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), will take effect on 1 October 2026 and introduces new obligations for manufacturers supplying these...
China’s National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) has launched a public consultation on two draft analytical standards aimed at strengthening cosmetic testing practices. The proposals introduce updated methodologies for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa and for analysing ethanol alongside 39 additional compounds commonly found in cosmetic products. The consultation reflects China’s continued efforts to modernise...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has included two long-awaited cosmetic regulations in its 2026 regulatory agenda, signalling renewed progress on measures that could significantly affect cosmetic manufacturers, importers, and consumers. The planned proposals address the use of formaldehyde in hair straightening products and the mandatory declaration of fragrance allergens on cosmetic labels. Although...
