Original source
Standard / method
国家药监局关于将《邻苯基苯酚及其盐类》等3项标准纳入化妆品安全技术规范的公告
- Official date
- 2026-05-15
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Official source. NMPA STSC incorporation of three ingredient standards
Key points
- Mercury and its compounds: applies 1 July 2026.
- OPP and salts, Acid Violet 43 (CI 60730): apply 1 June 2028.
- Stock already manufactured before implementation may follow the announcement’s transitional sentence — read that sentence, do not invent one.
Dates. Announcement 15 May 2026. Mercury: 1 July 2026. OPP / CI 60730: 1 June 2028.
Verify in the official text. Exact prohibition vs limit, and any preservative exceptions named in the mercury standard.
Open questions. Confirm any transitional stock rules and whether your exact INCI / product type is named. This desk brief is a prioritisation aid, not a legal determination.
What changed: Three ingredient standards enter STSC with staggered dates; mercury is 1 July 2026.
Who is affected: All China cosmetics; highest urgency for products with mercury risk or using OPP / CI 60730.
Suggested next steps: 1. Confirm mercury test method and limit vs the new standard before 1 July 2026.
2. Calendar OPP / CI 60730 for 2028 artwork and formula reviews.
On 15 May 2026 NMPA incorporated three standards into STSC: o-phenylphenol and its salts, Acid Violet 43 (CI 60730), and mercury and its compounds.
Anyone with China SKUs that could contain mercury (including historic skin-lightening contamination risk) should treat 1 July 2026 as a hard check date.
OPP and CI 60730 apply 1 June 2028 — do not freeze 2028 work at the expense of the mercury date.
This week: ask QC whether current mercury methods and limits already match the new standard, and halt any SKU that cannot show it.
Official text
English translation — the official-language text prevails
Unofficial English translation of the NMPA announcement of 15 May 2026. The Chinese official text prevails.
NMPA organised three standards, which were reviewed by the director meeting of the NMPA Cosmetics Standardization Technical Committee. They are hereby issued and incorporated into the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics:
- o-Phenylphenol and its salts — applies from 1 June 2028.
- Acid Violet 43 (CI 60730) — applies from 1 June 2028.
- Mercury and its compounds — applies from 1 July 2026.
Before those implementation dates, products already manufactured or imported may follow the transitional sentence in the official announcement. Read that sentence in the Chinese text; do not invent a sell-through rule.