CHINESE JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL GUIDE >

2026 , Vol. 28 >Issue 4: 386 - 386-393

DOI: https://doi.org/magtech.2025.05.05-00002

Comparative Analysis of Recent Regulatory Frameworks and Developments in Cosmetics： China， the EU， Japan， and South Korea

  • 晓平 李
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  • 1.Hebei Provincial General Inspectorate of Professional Drug Inspectors （Southern Region）， Hebei Shijiazhuang 050000， China；
    2.Center for Special Drug Inspection， National Medical Products Administration， Hebei Shijiazhuang 050000， China

Received date: 2025-05-05

  Revised date: 2025-07-24

  Accepted date: 2026-05-26

  Online published: 2026-05-26

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Abstract

Through comparative analysis of the regulatory frameworks， ingredient management， safety assessment， efficacy claims and verification， animal testing policies， and alternative methods in China， the European Union （EU）， Japan， and South Korea， this study provides references for China's cosmetic regulation. The research reveals distinct characteristics in cosmetic regulation across these regions. The EU adopts a corporate self-discipline and ex-post regulation model with stringent ingredient access control. China implements a dual-track registration and filing system， progressively enhancing its safety assessment framework while aligning efficacy claim classification with EU practices. Japan bases its system on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law， featuring a "positive list" ingredient management system and requiring classification approval by the Ministry of Health， Labour and Welfare for efficacy claims， maintaining a technology-neutral stance on animal testing. South Korea integrates EU and Japanese models， having strengthened safety assessment requirements through recent Cosmetics Act amendments and achieved a complete ban on animal testing. Comparative findings indicate： the EU emphasizes precautionary principles and full-lifecycle regulation； Japan prioritizes scientific evidence and categorical management； China demonstrates incremental reform characteristics； and South Korea is undergoing regulatory transition from lenient to strict standards. Regarding alternative methods to animal testing， the EU leads globally， China accelerates technology conversion， Japan maintains technical reserve strategies， and South Korea has achieved full substitution. The regulatory differences among China， the EU， Japan， and South Korea offer significant insights for China's cosmetic regulation. China should leverage advanced international experiences to continuously improve regulatory frameworks， strengthen ingredient management， elevate safety assessment standards， rigorously regulate efficacy claims， and actively promote research and application of alternative methods to animal testing， thereby better protecting consumer rights and ensuring market fairness.


Key words：  ;  ; Cosmetics； ; Regulation； ; Supervision

Cite this article

晓平 李 .

Comparative Analysis of Recent Regulatory Frameworks and Developments in Cosmetics： China， the EU， Japan， and South Korea

[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL GUIDE, 2026 , 28(4) : 386 -386-393 . DOI: magtech.2025.05.05-00002

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