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Guide
What is required to export face masks to China?
Most face masks are exported to China as ordinary cosmetics when they are used to moisturize, clean, soothe or otherwise care for the face without a special function. You generally complete ordinary filing before general-trade import, appoint a Domestic Responsible Person and apply a Chinese label. A mask that claims whitening or sun protection must be registered instead. A product that is actually a medical dressing or is used on broken skin may not be a cosmetic at all.
How to judge the path
Sheet, clay and overnight masks usually share the ordinary path when their claims stay ordinary; the substrate or clay format should be coded correctly. See sheet, clay and overnight masks.
Eye masks and acne patches need their own reading because some patches are closer to medical devices. See eye or acne patches.
Typical documents, tests and labels
Testing and ordinary cosmetics filing may proceed in parallel. The ordinary filing cycle is about 10–20 days in total, depending on completeness and supplementary requests. That timing applies only to ordinary cosmetics filing, never to special cosmetics registration and not as a guaranteed import timeline. Multi-formula kits that must be used together may be classified as one product; separately usable masks in a box are usually separate products. Jinshang Testing organizes the compliance work. Testing is coordinated with partner laboratories, and those laboratories issue the reports they perform. After a record is issued, check it on the official NMPA filing query https://hzpba.nmpa.gov.cn/gccx/ and the NMPA data-search page https://datasearch.nmpa.gov.cn/datasearch/home-index.html#category=hzp.
Cautions
Do not describe a mask as a treatment for dermatitis, wounds or infection. Children’s masks must stay inside permitted children’s claims.
Questions we are often asked
Does the sheet substrate need its own filing?
A mask with a substrate is generally classified as one cosmetic product, including the substrate that is meant to be used with it. Follow the classification rules for products presented that way.
Can a “brightening mask” stay ordinary?
Only if the wording does not amount to whitening or spot-removal. If it does, register it as a special cosmetic.
Next step
Discuss your China market path
Tell us whether you plan to import finished goods or manufacture in mainland China, and what the product claims. We will outline the likely filing or registration path. Testing, where needed, is arranged with partner laboratories.
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