By Mieke Meintjes
China’s government is updating its cosmetics safety and approval policies, which could make the cosmetics market easier to navigate for international brands that have been struggling to keep a stable footing in the country. Amid the regulatory shift, companies operating in the country, such as Cosmax and Clariant, are ramping up investment, innovation, and production capacity.
China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has issued Opinions that focus on accelerating cosmetic approvals, stimulating innovation in raw materials, and strengthening safety oversight. The NMPA’s changes will gradually make China’s cosmetics rules more predictable for global companies amid years of reported slowdowns.
“According to statistics from the China Fragrance and Cosmetics Association, the transaction volume of China’s cosmetics market exceeded ¥1 trillion (US$140.7 billion) in 2024, making it the world’s largest consumer market,” the NMPA says.
Against this backdrop, Clariant is increasing its investment in China. The Swiss ingredient supplier has invested CHF 80 million (USD 99.8 million) to expand its Daya Bay facilities. The investment aims to boost specialty chemicals production for personal and home care, thereby helping Clariant meet rising performance demands in Asia.
