China Focus: Our top stories featuring China’s cosmetics industry

1 - Hard truths about China’s natural cosmetics market​

Between unpredictable regulations, staggering costs and finicky consumers, China is not an easy market to conquer​, especially if you are a natural or organic beauty brand.

Speaking at Cosmoprof Asia, Laurent Milet, General Director of Laboratoire Phyto-Actif estimated that in the last five years, China accounted for 50% of the €15bn global growth of natural products.

This growth makes the Chinese market very alluring for many natural brands, but Milet, who has 10 years of business experience in the Chinese market, believes falling for it will be a mistake. “It is very tempting to rush to China… think you have natural products and that you’re going to be rich.”​

2 - China’s new CBEC regulations a boon for cosmetics sector​

China has decided not to subject first-time cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) imports to licensing, registration or record-filing requirements, signalling easier times ahead for foreign cosmetics​ companies.

According to the statement from the State Council, China plans to “expand and improve” the existing CBEC policies in order to “unlock the potential of consumption” in China.

“The Chinese market opportunities for western brands is colossal. The CBEC regulations change is great news for Chinese consumers in search for quality products,”​ said Kris Fang, Head of Europe for China Beauteville, a cosmetics hub located Huzhou.

“The government is opening the domestic market to international companies and it will definitely help boost consumption of cosmetics products [in China].”

3 - The value of the French identity in China’s cosmetics market​

The French cosmetics industry is considered one of the leaders in the market, but with strong competition from international and regional brands, can French companies leverage on its national identity​ to maintain an edge in the cut-throat Chinese market?

For Laurence Fremy, APAC Director of Laboratoires Expanscience, and Raphaëlle Faure, Export Manager of Biologique Recherche, simply being made-in-France is not enough for the Chinese cosmetics market.

4 - China on route to banning microbeads ​

After a meeting between Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, China and Canada jointly announce intention to reduce use of microbeads in beauty and personal care products​.

The meeting took place at the 33rd ASEAN Summit held in Singapore from November 11 to 15.

After, the countries jointly released a statement on marine litter and plastics, explicitly stating the intention to “Reduce the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetic and personal care consumer products and address other sources of micro-plastics.”​

5 - China officially replaces imported cosmetic registration with filing management nationwide​

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) officially announced that the registration of first-imported non-specials cosmetics will be replaced entirely by filing management nationwide​ from Nov 10.

Under this new regulatory scheme, foreign manufacturers must elect a domestic responsible person (RP) and authorise the individual to file a record via the online filing system at the administration website of NMPA prior to import.

Only after obtaining a filing certification on the system will the product be permitted for import and distribution.