CHINA – The National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) China has published the “Technical Guiding Principles for Children’s Cosmetics,” which details trade name, formula, labeling and safety assessment requirements.
The document aims to guide registrants and cosmetics filing for children under 12 years old. The guideline was published on August 31 of this year and came into effect immediately upon publication.
Children’s cosmetics are recognized for their cleaning, moisturizing, toning, and sun protection functions.
They are identified based on user groups and labels, such as whether it indicates, in words, if it applies to the whole population or family use. This can also be done through Chinese pinyin, numbers, symbols, and packaging formats.
“In principle, imported children’s cosmetics should be classified according to the efficacy claims, parts of action, user groups, product dosage forms, usage methods, among other factors, as stated on the sales package label (including instructions) of the country (region) where the cosmetics registrant or filing person is located, or the country (region) of production,” reads the guideline. “The coding and declaration category cannot be changed at will.”
Cosmetic registrants and filers should submit materials in accordance with the “Regulations on the Management of Cosmetics Registration and Filing Materials” and fulfill the technical requirements specified in the new guideline, as stated by the NIFDC.
Children’s cosmetics are divided into two categories: infants (zero to three years) and children (three to 12 years).
NIFDC limits efficacy claims for infant cosmetics to cleaning, moisturizing, hair care, sun protection, soothing, and refreshing.
For children, efficacy claims are limited to cleansing, makeup removal, moisturizing, beautification, fragrance, hair care, sun protection, repair, soothing, and refreshing.
Moreover, the two subcategories have different raw material formulas, labeling, product execution, and safety requirements.
NIFDC justifies the division between infants and children based on physiological differences.
They highlight that infant skin (zero to one year) is thinner than that of adults, has fewer sebaceous glands, and has poor skin moisturizing and buffering abilities.
Although the structure of the skin is complete, its barrier function is immature and cannot fully resist microbial contamination.
“Adverse reactions, such as contact dermatitis, are more likely to occur, and the recovery time is longer,” underlines the guideline.
“Therefore, the design of children’s cosmetics product formula should prioritize safety and necessary efficacy.
“It is important to use relatively simple product formula and minimize the use of raw materials that may contain allergenic components or strong irritants, such as flavors, fragrances, coloring agents, preservatives, cationic surfactants, and chemical sunscreens.”
The guideline outlines that infant and children’s cosmetics that claim to be tear-free will undergo more stringent toxicological testing. Children have immature lacrimal glands, blink less frequently, and cannot effectively protect their eyes.
