CosmeticsImport involves strict regulatory supervision and process control. From overseas manufacturer qualifications to domestic market access, every step must strictly comply with relevant regulations. For first-time entrants, systematically organizing required documents, certification processes, and evaluating the assistance value of professional agents are effective approaches to mitigate risks and improve efficiency.

I. Essential Documents and Certification System

(1) Basic Trade Documents

Cross-border transaction documents

• Contracts and invoices: Must specify product name, specifications, composition, trade terms (e.g. CIF Shanghai) and intellectual property clauses, clearly defining quality liability attribution.
• Packing list and bill of lading: Indicate net/gross weight, packaging quantity, country/region of origin. Ocean bills of lading must be clean bills, with consignee information matching domestic importer registration records.

Overseas compliance documents

• Free Sale Certificate (FSC): Issued by the regulatory authority of the manufacturing country (e.g. EU CPNP certificate, US FDA establishment registration number), certifying the products legal sale in the country of origin.
• Qualifications of Production Enterprises: Overseas manufacturers must register on the NMPAs Imported Cosmetics Manufacturer Information Service Platform and provide GMP certification or ISO 22716 certificate.

(2) Domestic Market Access Certifications

NMPA filing/registration

• Ordinary cosmetics (non-special use): File through the National Medical Products Administration Government Service Platform, submitting product formula, safety assessment report, production process summary, etc., with an approval cycle of approximately 20 working days.
• Special cosmetics (sunscreen, whitening, etc.): Require administrative licensing application, submitting human safety test reports and efficacy evaluation materials, with an approval cycle of 6-12 months and costs potentially reaching hundreds of thousands of yuan.

Inspection and quarantine documents

• Health certificate: Before goods arrive at port, an official overseas institution must issue a Health Certificate or Sanitary Certificate proving compliance with Chinese standards (GB 7916-2015) for microorganisms, heavy metals and other indicators.
• Test report: Must include testing for 200+ risk substances such as preservatives (e.g. phenoxyethanol) and sunscreens (e.g. benzophenone-3), issued by CNAS-accredited laboratories in China.

(3) Label Compliance Documents

Chinese label samples

Must comply with GB 5296.3-2021 standard, mandatory labeling requirements:

• Product name, ingredient list (in descending order of content), net content
• Country/region of origin, name and address of domestic responsible entity
• Production date/expiration date (must correspond with overseas labeling), approval number (for special cosmetics)
  Note: Imported cosmetics are prohibited from labeling with non-compliant claims such as cosmeceutical or medical skincare. Labels must pass customs review before being affixed.

II. Whether assistance is needed forImport agent

(1) Professional Value: Reducing Compliance Risks

Qualification agency and process acceleration

• Filing and registration: Agents familiar with NMPA system operations can pre-review formula safety and avoid corrections due to documentation format errors.
• Overseas manufacturer registration: Assist in completing Imported Cosmetics Manufacturer Information Collection, ensuring enterprise codes match customs declarations to avoid temporary holds due to qualification discrepancies during clearance.

Document pre-review and dispute resolution

• Label compliance review: Conduct advance checks for issues like missing allergen declarations or non-compliant claims, reducing customs inspection rejection risks.
• Testing report coordination: Assist in selecting domestic partner laboratories to ensure testing covers latest national standard requirements (e.g. 2024s new CBD testing requirements).

(2) Operational Value: End-to-End Efficiency Optimization

Customs clearance and logistics coordination

• Port resource matching: Prioritize major cosmetics import ports like Shanghai and Guangzhou, reducing average clearance time to 48 hours (compared to 3-5 days for ordinary enterprises).
• Warehouse Temperature Control Management: Provides constant temperature warehouses (15-25°C) and traceability management for temperature-sensitive products such as essential oils and lip glosses to prevent deterioration caused by improper storage.

Policy tracking and risk alerts

• Dynamic Compliance Monitoring: Real-time updates on the Catalog of Banned Cosmetic Ingredients (6 new hormones added in the 2024 edition) and import tariff adjustments.
• Emergency Plan Formulation: In case of customs inspection failure, quickly initiates return and rectification (relabeling completed within 72 hours) or destruction procedures to reduce storage rental fees caused by delays.

(3) Cost Value: Resource Integration and Risk Hedging

Cash flow optimization

• Tax Advance and Foreign Exchange Services: Offers advance payment services for tariffs and VAT, avoiding exchange rate fluctuation risks through cross-border RMB settlement.
• Economies of Scale Negotiation: Consolidates orders from multiple clients to reduce international transportation costs (LCL shipping costs can be saved by 15%-20%).

Full-chain supply chain coverage

• Overseas Pickup: Has offices in Incheon, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, to assist with the classification of K-beauty sample-sized free gifts (often leading to tax supplements due to incorrect HS codes).
• Domestic Distribution: Connects with bonded warehouses for drop-shipping and provides value-added services such as labeling and sorting.

Finally, we wish you smooth import and export operations! If you require agency services or need more support, feel free to contact us!