(I) Requirements for first import
1. Declaration requirements
The domestic consignee of imported cosmetics or its agent shall declare in accordance with the relevant regulations of the General Administration of Customs, including but not limited to declaring the name, brand, country (region) of origin, specifications, quantity/weight, production batch number/production date of imported cosmetics one by one.
2. Identification of first import
The first imported cosmetics refer to cosmetics with no previous import records. The domestic consignee of the imported cosmetics shall provide the supporting materials of the previous import records. Any cosmetics that cannot provide authentic and valid supporting materials of the previous import records shall be deemed to be imported for the first time. Products with completely identical information such as overseas manufacturers, product names (including product brands), formulas, overseas consignors, and domestic consignees shall be deemed to be the same product.
3. Special requirements for first import
According to the relevant provisions of Article 8 of the “Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics” (Order No. 243 of the General Administration of Customs), the first import of special-purpose cosmetics shall obtain the import cosmetics hygiene license issued by the State Food and Drug Administration, and the first import of non-special-purpose cosmetics shall obtain the registration certificate issued by the State Food and Drug Administration.
4. Port customs review requirements for the first declaration of imported cosmetics
The following documents shall be reviewed for the first imported cosmetics:
(1) For cosmetics that are subject to national health permits, the electronic data of the imported cosmetics health permit approval document shall be automatically compared and verified by the system.
(2) For cosmetics that are subject to national filing, the filing certificate shall be reviewed.
(3) For cosmetics that are not subject to national health permits or filings, the following materials shall be reviewed:
① Relevant safety assessment materials for substances that may pose safety risks issued by institutions with relevant qualifications;
② Documents or certificates of origin that allow production and sales in the country (region) of production.
(4) For finished cosmetics that are sold in packaging, in addition to the first three items, a sample of the Chinese label and a foreign label and their translation shall be submitted, which shall be used as a declaration of the company’s possession of the materials. If the originals need to be verified during the inspection and quarantine process, the company may be required to provide them.
(5) For finished cosmetics that are not sold in packaging, the product name, quantity/weight, specifications, place of origin, production batch number and expiration date (production date and shelf life), the name of the destination where the packaging is applied, the name, address and contact information of the factory where the packaging is applied.
5. Requirements for Chinese labels
When enterprises produce Chinese labels for imported cosmetics, the Chinese labels shall comply with the provisions of standards and regulations such as the “General Labeling of Cosmetics for Instructions for Use of Consumer Products” (GB 5296.3-2008) and the “Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics”.
The Chinese labels of cosmetics shall include basic information such as the name of the cosmetics, ingredient list, net content, date indication, approval number, country (region) of origin, agent or distributor information.
(II) Inspection and Quarantine
After accepting the declaration, the customs will conduct inspection and quarantine of the imported cosmetics in accordance with the mandatory requirements of my country’s technical specifications, including on-site inspection, sampling and retention, laboratory inspection, and certification.
If the goods are qualified after inspection and quarantine, the customs shall issue a “Certificate of Inspection and Quarantine of Goods before they can be sold or used.
If the goods are unqualified after inspection and quarantine, the customs shall issue a certificate of unqualified goods. If the goods are unqualified in terms of safety, health and environmental protection, the customs shall order the party concerned to destroy them, or issue a return processing notice, and the importer shall handle the return procedures. If the goods are unqualified in other items, they can be technically processed under the supervision of the customs, and they can be sold or used only after they are re-inspected and quarantined.