State Administration for Market Regulation: Launching a pilot program for electronic labeling of cosmetics.

On October 20th, the State Drug Administration issued a notice on the pilot project of electronic labeling for cosmetics, and decided to carry out the pilot project of electronic labeling for cosmetics. Starting from February 1, 2026, pilot projects will be carried out in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, and Chongqing to label Chinese labels on cosmetics through electronic tags. The pilot project will last for 3 years. The pilot project of duty-free cosmetics electronic labeling on Hainan Island can be implemented in accordance with the requirements of this notice. Cosmetics electronic labeling is a part of cosmetics labeling, and should comply with the requirements of the Regulations, its supporting regulations, normative documents, and this notice. The original text is as follows: Notice of the State Drug Administration on the Pilot Work of Electronic Labeling for Cosmetics No. 16 [2025] of NMPA Drug Regulatory Authorities of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Information Center of the National Medical Products Administration: In order to further optimize the management of cosmetics labels (including toothpaste, etc.), meet the rights to information of consumers and the needs of aging, facilitate the production and operation of enterprises, and promote the high-quality development of the cosmetics industry, in accordance with the Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") and other regulations, the State Drug Administration has decided to conduct a pilot project of electronic labeling for cosmetics, and hereby informs relevant matters as follows: 1. Starting from February 1, 2026, pilot projects will be carried out in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, and Chongqing to label Chinese labels on cosmetics through electronic tags. The pilot project will last for 3 years. The pilot project of duty-free cosmetics electronic labeling on Hainan Island can be implemented in accordance with the requirements of this notice. 2. Cosmetic electronic labeling is a part of cosmetics labels and should comply with the requirements of the Regulations, its supporting regulations, normative documents, and this notice. 3. The provincial drug regulatory authorities participating in the pilot work shall clarify the supervision requirements and measures during the pilot period based on the actual situation of their jurisdiction, select and confirm pilot enterprises, and timely publish the list of pilot enterprises on the official website of the provincial drug regulatory authority, steadily promote the pilot work in their jurisdictions, and timely solve the key problems encountered in the pilot work, forming a standardized and efficient management model for the application of cosmetic electronic labeling. 4. The pilot work of cosmetic electronic labeling should comply with the requirements of the Work Requirements for Pilot Work of Cosmetic Electronic Labeling (see Annex 1) and establish a cosmetic electronic labeling system in accordance with the requirements of the Cosmetic Electronic Labeling Data Set and the Technical Specifications for Cosmetic Electronic Labeling QR Codes (see Annex 2, Annex 3). 5. The Information Center of the State Drug Administration and the China National Institutes for Food and Drug Control shall optimize the functions of the cosmetics registration and filing information service platform according to the needs of the pilot work, and provide technical support for the submission of cosmetic electronic labeling information by pilot enterprises. 6. Cosmetics using electronic labels in the pilot project can be produced and sold within the territory of the People's Republic of China. If violations of relevant regulations on cosmetics label management are found, the drug regulatory authorities shall handle them in accordance with the Regulations and other relevant laws and regulations. 7. The State Drug Administration will strengthen supervision, guidance, and overall coordination of the pilot work, and adjust the scope of the pilot project in a timely manner according to the needs of the pilot work. Drug regulatory authorities at all levels shall effectively implement the work, rectify problems promptly, and report them. State Drug Administration October 16, 2025 This article is selected and edited from the State Drug Administration. Editor: Chen Wenfang.