China	Taiwan	Japan	Korea
Classification	Special Use Cosmetics	General Cosmetics (except products containing Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate)	Quasi Drugs	Functional Cosmetics
Obligation	Registration	Products containing Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate: registration	Registration	Registration
Permitted ingredients	No list	13	No official list	9

 

China

Whitening products with active whitening ingredients were classified as special use cosmetics since December 2013, which require registration with CFDA. Certain categories of whitening products are defined under Chinese regulations as “products which make people look white by physical covering”. Although they are regulated as special-use cosmetics these whitening products (in contrast to whitening products which alter the actual appearance of the skin) are subject to more relaxed registration requirements and shorter duration.

CFDA hasn’t defined any permitted or prohibited whitening ingredients. For some common whitening ingredients, such as Arbutin, there is also no limit in the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics. CFDA reviews the registration only based on the submitted active whitening agents list and concentrations in the formula. The expert panel will determine the safety and efficacy of the ingredient.