Why Is Your Imported Cosmetic Product Held up in China? The Key May Lie in Labels and Ingredients!

China has become the worlds second largestCosmetics & Personal Careconsumer market, with a market size exceeding 500 billion yuan and an average annual growth rate of over 12%. International brands are accelerating their layout. However,complicated registration and filing procedures, strict label and ingredient compliance requirements, coupled with the constantly changingCross-border E-commercepolicies, have frequently hindered many brands from entering the Chinese market. How to ensure thesmooth import, compliant customs clearance, and rapid shelving of cosmetics?

I. Core pain points and policy barriers in cosmetics import

1 Stringent access qualification thresholds

According to the Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics, imported cosmetics need to complete:

• Efficacy claim filing(for ordinary cosmetics) orRegistration and approval(for special cosmetics)
• Record - keeping certificate for imported non - special - use cosmetics (CFDA record - keeping)
• Cosmetics raw material safety assessment report (including screening for prohibited ingredients)
• Overseas production enterprises need to obtaina registration number in China(mandatory implementation since 2023)

2 Label and ingredient compliance risks

• The Chinese label must contain 13 mandatory information items such as the ingredient list, country of origin, and shelf - life
• It must comply with the restrictions of the Hygienic Standard for Cosmetics on more than 1,200 ingredients such as preservatives and colorants
• Cross - border e - commerce products need to be specifically marked with the words For online sales only,

3 Challenges in supply chain timeliness

• Cold - chain transportation requirements (such as essence products containing active ingredients)
• Shelf - life management (the import cycle needs to be controlled within 1/3 of the total shelf - life)
• Optimization of inventory turnover rate under the cross - border e - commerce 1210 bonded stock - preparation model

II. Value creation paths of professional agency services

1 Customized access strategy services

Service modules	Service Content
Pre - review of product compliance	Ingredient screening, feasibility analysis of efficacy claims, and suggestions for formula adjustment
Agency for registration and filing	Full - process trusteeship from document translation, toxicological testing to filing with the Food and Drug Administration
Cross - border channel planning	Select the general trade / cross - border direct mail / bonded warehouse model according to product positioning

2 Full - link customs clearance solutions

• Intelligent classification system: Precise HS CODE classification (e.g., lipstick 3304.1000, tariff rate 5%)
• Tax optimization model: Comprehensive application ofIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:(such as RCEP), cross - border e - commerce comprehensive tax (9.1%)
• Fast - track Customs Clearance Channel: Connect with the customs AEO - certified customs affairs system to achieve port release within 48 hours

3 Empowerment of supply chain finance

• ImportLetter of CreditOpen (LC) and lock the exchange rate
• Inventory pledge financing (LTV up to 70%)
• Cross - border e - commerce accounts receivable factoring

III. Practical case: The market - entry strategy of a European cosmeceutical brand in China

Project Background: A French SPA - grade skin - care brand plans to enter the high - end mall channels in China through general trade

Service Solution:

Internationally - recognized Safety StandardsCompliance Transformation Stage(8 weeks)

• Adjust the ingredient of iodopropynyl butylcarbamate that is allowed in the EU but prohibited in China in the formula
• Redesign the Chinese label and pass the pre - review

Regional Mandatory CertificationsRegistration and Filing Stage(12 weeks)

• Complete the filing of non - special cosmetics (Filing number: Guo Zhuang Wang Bei Jin Zi XXXXXXX)
• Obtain the registration number of the manufacturing enterprise in China (A - XXXX - XXXX)

Cultural and Religious NormsFirst - order Execution Stage(6 weeks)

• Maritime TransportationTemperature - controlled container transportation (20℃±2℃)
• ApplyChina-Europe Railway ExpressGuarantee transportation timeliness with priority cabin space
• Reduce warehousing costs through the distribution and centralized declaration mode in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone

Achievement Data:

• Comprehensive cost savings of 23% (compared with self - operated imports)
• Compress the cycle from order to shelf to 65 days
• First - year sales exceed 8 million yuan

In the Chinese market,Cosmetics importis not just a simple customs clearance issue, but a professional service coveringpolicy compliance, label review, tax optimization, and supply chain managementChoosingProfessionalImport Representationservices will help enterprisesreduce import costs and shorten the customs clearance cyclewhile ensuring that products successfully completeregistration and filing,and quickly go on the shelvesto seize market opportunities.