China ends mandatory animal testing for most imported cosmetics

The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), China’s regulatory body for drugs and medical devices, has announced that general cosmetics imported into China will no longer require animal testing from 1 May 2021 onwards.

According to Business of Fashion website, international cosmetic firms will now be exempt from the country’s mandatory animal testing provided certain specifications are adhered to: such as quality certifications from their country-of-origin; products not targeting children; and products containing only those raw materials featured on China’s approved list.

The announcement comes as a breath of fresh air for animal welfare organisations and will allow several cruelty-free cosmetics brands to sell their products in the country.

Non-profit research and testing lab for the development of animal-free testing methods, the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), and China’s Food and Drug Administration had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017 to make animal testing for cosmetics obsolete.

Chinese efforts to shift away from animal-tested cosmetics began in 2019 when the country put a stop to animal testing on post-market cosmetics, as per an announcement made by the Gansu Province National Medical Products Association.

Although ordinary cosmetics will be exempt from mandatory animal-testing, ‘special use’ products have not yet been brought in that category. This includes hair perming products, hair dyes, freckle-removing and whitening products, anti-hair loss products, sunscreens, and cosmetics claiming new efficacy.