China's Cosmetic New Ingredient Filings Surge in H1 2025, with "China Ingredients" Leading the Way

In the first half of 2025, China's cosmetic new ingredient filings surged at an average rate of three per week! As of June 18, 2025, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) had publicly listed 75 new ingredients, marking a 74% year-on-year increase compared to the same period in 2024 and setting a new historical record. At this growth rate, the total filings for 2025 may surpass the 90 new ingredients recorded for the entire year of 2024 by September.

Among the 75 newly filed ingredients, nearly 90% were domestically developed, solidifying the dominance of "China Ingredients." Plant-based ingredients with Chinese characteristics led the trend, followed by rapid growth in peptide-based ingredients and a flourishing biotech sector.

Policy-Driven: The Catalyst Behind the Surge

In 2021, the NMPA issued the Regulations on the Management of Cosmetic New Ingredient Registration and Filing Documentation, laying the foundation for new ingredient applications. That year, only six new ingredients were filed. However, the numbers grew to 42 in 2022, 69 in 2023, and 90 in 2024. This exponential growth—a 14-fold increase in four years—was fueled by clearer regulatory requirements and expanding policy support.

Key drivers include:

• Guideline Clarifications: The NMPA issued technical guidelines (e.g., defining application scenarios, safety assessments) to reduce uncertainty.

• Policy Incentives: Measures such as toxicology test exemptions (per the Provisions on Supporting Cosmetic Ingredient Innovation) and streamlined communication mechanisms (via the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, NIFDC) accelerated filings.

• Regional Support: Guangdong and Shanghai, accounting for nearly 50% of national filings, introduced subsidies (e.g., Guangzhou offers up to 5 million RMB for listed ingredients) and fast-track consultation services.

Technological Innovation: The "Secret Weapon" of China Ingredients

With the implementation of the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation and supporting policies, plant-based new ingredient filings exploded, making up nearly one-third of 2025's total—surpassing the combined filings from 2021 to 2023. This growth reflects five key trends:

1. Leveraging Regional Botanicals: Companies focus on rare regional plants (e.g., Guangxi’s golden camellia, Yunnan’s plateau species) to build differentiation.

2. Multi-Dimensional Resource Utilization: Extracts from different plant parts (e.g., flowers, leaves, callus cultures) enhance sustainability.

3. Active Compound Purification: High-purity bioactive compounds (e.g., salidroside from rhodiola) improve efficacy and regulatory compliance.

4. Biotech Enhancement: Synthetic biology and fermentation boost yields of plant-derived actives.

5. Cross-Industry Safety Data: Ingredients with food-use history (e.g., traditional herbs) accelerate approvals by reducing toxicology requirements.

Compliance: The "Safety Belt" for New Ingredients

Filing is just the beginning—post-filing reviews, 3-year safety monitoring, and annual reports are critical. Key challenges include:

• Technical Audits: Authorities may request corrections within 90 working days; delays risk cancellation.

• Post-Monitoring Transitions: After 3 years, safe ingredients enter the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients, while problematic ones face revocation.

• Lifecycle Management: Companies must track production, sales, and adverse reactions to ensure compliance.

Conclusion: From Quantity to Quality

China’s cosmetic ingredient innovation is reshaping the global landscape, but challenges like homogeneous competition remain. Strengthening core R&D and proprietary technologies will be key to converting regulatory advantages into market leadership.

Our New Ingredient Services

✅ Guide cosmetic new raw material registrants and filers in establishing a safety risk monitoring and evaluation system;
✅ Assist in completing the preparation of the cosmetic new raw material development report based on the provided basic information, research background, and latest research progress;
✅ Guide applicants in drafting the preparation process for cosmetic new raw materials;
✅ Guide applicants in formulating quality control standards, including stability test data, quality specification indicators and their testing methods, as well as documentation on potentially hazardous substances and their control measures;
✅Guide applicants in conducting toxicological tests for cosmetic new raw materials and preparing toxicological safety evaluation materials;

✅Collect data supporting the efficacy of cosmetic new raw materials, including scientific literature, regulatory documents, in vitro or animal study data, and human efficacy evaluation materials;

✅Guide applicants in drafting technical requirements for cosmetic new raw materials;

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✅Provide professional full-process agency services for cosmetic new raw material registration and filing.