[Cosmetic Safety Assessment] A Q&A on Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessment and Stability Testing

1.What are the differences between the Partial Ingredient Usage Information from the International Cosmetic Safety Assessment Data Index released by NIFDC on April 10, 2025 and the International Authoritative Cosmetic Safety Assessment Data Index released on April 30, 2024?

Different content focuses: The International Cosmetic Safety Assessment Data Index released in 2024 is an objective collection of 3,651 ingredients that have been used in Chinese cosmetics but not included in the Cosmetic Safety Technical Specifications, and for which the European Consumer Safety Scientific Committee (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) have published cosmetic safety assessment reports. The "Information on the Use of Some Ingredients Included in the International Cosmetic Safety Assessment Data Index" released in 2025 is based on the updated "Ingredient Use Information of Marketed Products" released on February 9, 2025. Based on industry feedback, it sorts out some ingredients included in the 2024 version of the International Index that have no assessment conclusions or have restricted use conditions, and is formulated in combination with their use in registered cosmetics in China.

Different ingredient information included: The 2024 International Index contains relevant safety assessment report information for 3,651 ingredients. The 2025 "International Index Ingredient Information" focuses on some ingredients with higher usage frequency in 999 cosmetics registered in my country, and lists in detail the parts, methods and amounts of use of these ingredients. A total of 2,879 usage information items are included, greatly enriching the reference data for cosmetic ingredient safety assessment.

2. What should be noted when using the ingredient information from the Partial Ingredient Usage

Information from the International Index in cosmetic safety assessments?

According to the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulations and the Technical Guidance for the Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics (2021 Edition) and other laws, regulations and technical documents, cosmetics registrants and filers are responsible for the quality and safety of cosmetics, and should conduct safety assessments by themselves or entrust professional institutions to form safety assessment reports, and be responsible for their authenticity and scientificity.

《<International Index> ingredient information》 is an objective collection of ingredient usage information that has been used in cosmetics registered and filed in China but not included in the Technical Specification for the Safety of Cosmetics. It does not organize a systematic evaluation of the safety of the listed ingredients. When using relevant ingredient information, cosmetics registrants and filers should comply with relevant national laws, regulations, mandatory national standards and technical specifications to carry out cosmetics safety assessments.

The ingredient usage included in the <International Index> ingredient information can provide a reference for cosmetics safety assessments. Cosmetics registrants and filers should evaluate the applicability of the data in combination with the product usage method and site of action, and use the ingredient usage correctly. If a new safety assessment conclusion is issued for an ingredient included in the International Index Ingredient Information, cosmetic registrants and filers should select the data type as the basis for ingredient assessment based on the scientificity and rationality of the data and the principles of science, fairness and case analysis.

3. Apart from the Cosmetic Stability Test Evaluation Technical Guide, what other standards or

methods can be referenced for stability testing?

(1) ISO/TR 18811:2018 "Cosmetics-Guidelines on the stability testing of cosmetic products"

(2) "Colipa/CTFA Guidelines on Stability Testing of Cosmetic Products, March 2004"

(3) T/SHRH 058-2024 "Guidelines for Stability Testing of Cosmetics"

(4) T/GDICST 001-2023 "Guidelines for Stability Testing of Cosmetics"

(5) T/GDCQMA 002-2023 "Stability Testing Specifications for Cosmetics"

(6) T/SHFCA 002-2021 "Guidelines for Stability Testing of Cosmetics"

4. Why accelerated stability test results can be used to predict product shelf life?

Many chemical reactions in cosmetics, such as degradation and oxidation of ingredients, have a reaction rate that is closely related to temperature. The Arrhenius equation can quantitatively describe this relationship and predict the shelf life of cosmetics at different storage temperatures. Through accelerated aging experiments, that is, measuring the rate of change of cosmetic ingredients at higher temperatures, and then using the equation to extrapolate to normal storage temperatures, the actual shelf life of the product can be calculated. It should be noted that the Arrhenius equation assumes that the activation energy of the reaction does not change with temperature, which is not completely accurate in actual situations. For some complex cosmetic systems, the chemical reactions inside may be affected by many factors, and the activation energy may vary with changes in temperature or other conditions. The equation only considers the effect of temperature on the reaction rate, while ignoring the effects of other factors such as humidity, light, oxygen, etc. on the stability of cosmetics. In fact, these factors often play an important role in the storage and use of cosmetics.

If you have any questions related to cosmetic safety assessment, please contact us via info@enter-co.com.

Also, you can follow us on LinkedIn for the latest cosmetic and toothpaste compliance information.