Ordinary cosmetics filing for imported products

Imported ordinary cosmetics are still filed, not registered. They should be filed before import through the official information service platform, generally with a Domestic Responsible Person acting for the overseas filer. The extra work compared with a China-made ordinary cosmetic is usually the overseas evidence, the original packaging and translation, and the responsible-person arrangement—not a change from filing into registration.

Published 11 November 2026 · Updated 11 November 2026

How to judge the path

Confirm first that the product is not a special cosmetic. If it claims sun protection, whitening or spot-removal, hair-dye, perm or anti-hair-loss effects, stop and use the registration path. If it is an ordinary cosmetic manufactured outside mainland China and imported as a finished good, use imported ordinary filing.

What to prepare

Prepare the basic filing dossier plus the usual imported-product extras: original sales packaging and a Chinese translation of the foreign-language label; proof of marketing in the country of the filer or the country of manufacture, unless an exception applies; authorization of the Domestic Responsible Person; and contract-manufacturing documents if an overseas factory produces the product for the brand. Exceptions to overseas marketing proof include products whose formula was designed specifically for the China market, certain cases of a domestic filer commissioning an overseas factory, and, where NMPA Announcement No. 70 of 2026 applies, a first launch in China or a simultaneous launch supported by a commitment statement.

See overseas documents usually required for more detail.

Cautions

Do not copy the domestic ordinary-filing sentence—“testing and filing in parallel, about 10–20 days”—onto every import project as a guaranteed duration. The legal path is still filing, but translations and overseas papers affect the calendar. After filing, online listings and later shipments should stay consistent with the filed information.

Questions we are often asked

Is imported ordinary filing done with the national regulator?

Yes. Imported ordinary cosmetics are filed with the NMPA, which may also entrust provincial authorities to carry out that administration.

Can we file after the first shipment has arrived?

The regulation requires imported ordinary cosmetics to be filed before import. Planning the filing after the goods are already at the port is not the compliant sequence.