CFDA looks into consumers view of China's cosmetics industry

A survey commissioned by the CFDA found that Chinese consumers had expressed the most concern over the proliferation of fake products in the market, false advertising, and high product prices.

Yet less than 5% of the respondents said that they had filed complaints with the relevant authorities, while 50% attributed their predicament to bad luck.

The large scale survey polled almost 10,000 consumers from Beijing and the Yangtze River Delta as well as more than 500 cosmetics manufacturers within a period of three months.

Report is the first to seek China's consumers' views on cosmetics consumption​

The data recorded indicated that China has become one of the world's largest cosmetics markets. Sales of cosmetics in 2013 totaled 200 billion yuan (US$32.3 billion).

There are more than 5,000 cosmetics companies in China, of which 90% are small- and medium-sized businesses that take less than 20% of the market share.

This marks the first time a report has ever been made specifically for consumers' views on cosmetics consumption and safety in China as well as on people's demand for industry supervision.

Legislation to protect consumers' rights​

CFDA department chief, Qi Liubin says that the planned legislation aims to protect consumers' rights.

"The top priority of the CFDA is to protect consumers' rights when conflicts emerge. Stepping up the guidelines regulating businesses has become a world trend​," he said.

Qi also said that the consumers had also questioned the government's efforts in scrutinizing cosmetics companies, raising doubts on concerns ranging from materials to the manufacturing procedures implemented, as indicated by the survey results.

As efforts made by the government increase, the situation for local consumers will improve, he added.

Most consumers want the companies to clearly identify these on the packaging to protect their rights and ensure their safety. Some 40% of cosmetics companies said that this requirement will take time and requested a grace period and product-grading standardization.