A new regulation that more than doubles the list of banned
substances used in cosmetics for sale in China will take effect
from July 1, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.
The regulation aims to keep pace with international standards
for cosmetics, including those of the European Union and the United
States, as well as to strengthen supervision of domestic
production.
The regulation adds 790 new substances to the list of those
banned in the production of cosmetics. This brings the total number
to 1,286.
It also modifies the lists of materials for producing hair dyes
and sun-screen products and outlines methods of testing for banned
substances.
The regulation also sets out new evaluation standards for
sun-screen products and for the testing and labeling of their
water-proof qualities.
The ministry issued its first health standards for cosmetics in
2002 when it banned 412 substances.
Zhang Heyong, director of the China Quality Association for
Pharmaceuticals, said in December that weak government supervision
and a lack of compulsory testing had lead to safety concerns.
(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2007)