Cosmetics mandatory GB 7916-2026 released, how to grasp the 18-month compliance window for brands

I. General Requirements for Cosmetic Safety: From "Recommended" to "Mandatory" On August 6, 2026, the General Administration of Market Supervision (National Standards Commission) approved and issued the General Requirements for Cosmetics Safety (GB 7916-2026), the first mandatory national standard in the field of cosmetics in China, which will be formally implemented on January 1, 2028, while repealing the 1987 Cosmetics Hygiene Standard. From "hygiene standards" to "safety standards", it seems to be only a two-word change, but in fact it represents the largest institutional upgrade of China's cosmetics regulatory system in nearly 40 years. < h3 > What does the legal effect of the standard mean? </h3 >The past technical requirements for cosmetic safety are scattered in the Technical Specifications for Cosmetic Safety, various announcements and recommendation standards, and the level of legal effectiveness is low.The new standard is published uniformly in the form of a mandatory national standard, which means: • All cosmetics manufactured and operated in China must be enforced and non-compliant < br/> • Regulatory enforcement and sampling penalties have a higher legal basis • Illegally added products, microorganisms exceeding the standard, and harmful substances exceeding the limit, the crackdown will continue to intensify < img src = "/uploads/1786026047290-4t9h6z.jpg "style =" max-width: 100%; "alt =" Children's Cosmetic Quality Inspection Scenario "/> 2. Quick overview of the core contents of the new national standard < h3 > 1.Microbial limit: classified control, strict for children The new standard implements limited management of the classification of the total number of colonies: • General cosmetics: ≤ 1000 CFU/g (mL) • Children's cosmetics (age 12 and under), eye contour/lashes/lips: ≤ 100 CFU/g (mL), strictly 10x At the same time, heat-resistant coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cannot be detected.It is noteworthy that the ISO international standard limits the total number of cosmetic colonies for children under 3 years of age to 100 CFU, while the new Chinese standard extends this strict limit to all cosmetic products for children 12 years of age and under, with a wider scope of protection. < h3 > 2. Heavy Metal Limit: 8 Hazardous Substances, International Leading The new standard sets specific limits for eight hazardous substances, such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium, and limits residues to 1 to 10 milligrams per kilogram of product. Internationally, the ISO standard only provides test methods and does not set specific limits.China's new standard directly gives a determinable limit basis, achieving international leadership in heavy metal control. < h3 > 3.Management of banned substances: scientifically defined, "prohibited ≠ undetectable" The new standard makes it clear that banned substances are substances that should not be used as raw materials.But when it is technically impossible to avoid being brought in as an impurity: • Limited regulations → shall be complied with < br/> • Safety assessments → should be conducted without limits to ensure that there is no risk to human health This provision provides a scientific and reasonable operating space for compliant production and avoids "one-size-fits-all" regulation. < h3 > 4.Full chain control:→ transportation of raw→ product→ packaging materials The new standard no longer focuses solely on finished product testing, but covers the full life cycle of cosmetics: • Raw material end: Identity information needs to be traceable, suppliers need to provide impurity risk assessment materials • < strong > Packaging end </strong >: Added risk control for the migration of harmful substances from packaging materials < br/> • Shipping end: Storage and transportation conditions are formally included in the standard constraints Third, how does the brand side grasp the 18-month compliance window?The new standard was implemented on January 1, 2028, with a transition period of about 18 months.Products that have been manufactured or imported prior to implementation may continue to be sold until the end of the shelf life.Brand parties should seize the window period to systematically promote compliance upgrades: < h3 > Phase 1 (by the end of 2026): Comprehensive mapping </h3 > • Pull the full text of the GB 7916-2026 standard and reference the existing product line one by one • Focus on whether the heavy metal limit indicator needs to be adjusted < br/> • Evaluate the current status of microbial control of children's line and eyelip products < br/> • Card traceability documents and impurity risk assessment materials of raw material suppliers < h3 > Phase 2 (H1 2027): Formulation and Process Adjustment </h3 > • Complete the formulation safety assessment and necessary adjustments against the new standard• Upgraded microbiological control scheme (anti-corrosion system, cleanliness, sealing of packaging materials) < br/> • Require raw material suppliers to complete impurity risk assessment materials < br/> • Assess the risk of migration of hazardous materials from packaging material suppliers < h3 > Phase 3 (H2 2027): Validation and production readiness </h3 > • Centrally complete product testing and verification to avoid scheduling congestion at the end of the year • Update the Product Safety Assessment Report • Complete the production of compliant products to ensure that there is a compliant inventory after 2028 < img src = "/uploads/1786026048922-7gxezv.jpg "style =" max-width: 100%; "alt =" Raw material traceability digital management "/> IV. Selecting the Three Key Dimensions of a Compliant OEM Plant After the implementation of the new national standard, the compliance ability of the foundry will become the core consideration for the brand to choose partners.It is recommended that the brand side evaluate from the following dimensions: < h3 > 1. Formulation Safety Assessment Capability Does the foundry have the ability to accurately assess and control heavy metal content in formulations?Is there a sound safety assessment process in place?Is it possible to quickly respond and adjust to the new standard's updated list of banned substances? < h3 > 2.Microbial control system Can the cleanliness of the production environment meet the strict limitations of children's cosmetics and eye and lip products?Are anti-corrosion systems adequately tested and challenging?Is the sealing of the packaging material up to standard? < h3 > 3.Supply Chain Control Capabilities Has a sound raw material traceability system been established?Can you provide the brand with complete raw material impurity risk assessment information?Has the packaging supplier undergone a hazardous material migration risk assessment? V. Compliance Practices for Micropeptide Organisms As a cosmetic foundry enterprise recognized as a national high-tech enterprise, Micropeptide Biology has a long-term investment and accumulation in the construction of a compliance system: • Four major production bases (Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Hunan), obtained the three certificates of cosmetic font number + mechanical font number + elimination font number integrated production qualification < br/> • Passed the three quality management system certifications of ISO13485, ISO22716, and GMPC in the United States < br/> • Cumulatively serves more than 800 brand customers with 72 technical achievements and 3 industry standards• A well-established technical system has been established for formulation safety assessment, heavy metal limit control, microbial index control, etc. In the face of the implementation requirements of the new GB 7916-2026 national standard, micropeptide organisms have started the benchmarking work to ensure that all product lines complete the compliance switch by 2028. Frequently Asked Questions < h3 > 1. What is the nature of the GB 7916-2026 standard? This is the first mandatory national standard in the field of cosmetics in China, drafted by the State Drug Administration and approved by the National Standards Committee.Mandatory GB standards have the highest legal force and must be enforced for all cosmetics manufactured and operated in China. < h3 > 2.What is the relationship between the new standard and the Cosmetic Safety Technical Specification? The new standard will build a "one and two wings" pattern - with mandatory national standards as the main body and the "Cosmetic Safety Technical Specifications" and industry standards as the two wings.The new standard incorporates elements related to basic safety from previously dispersed technical requirements, and more detailed technical specifications are still supplemented by the Cosmetic Safety Technical Specification. < h3 > 3. What should the brand do most now? It is recommended to pull the full text of the standard as soon as possible and conduct a gap analysis against the existing product line, focusing on the limit indicators of heavy metals, microbial indicators of children's/lip products, and the integrity of raw material traceability data.There are 18 months left until 2028, so it's best to do so sooner rather than later. < h3 > 4.Can old products still be sold during the transition period? Yes. Cosmetics that have been manufactured or imported prior to implementation on January 1, 2028 may continue to be sold until the end of the product's useful life.However, the newly produced product must meet the requirements of the new standard. < h3 > 5. What are the special requirements of the new standard for children's cosmetics? The total number of colonies of cosmetics for children aged 12 years and under is limited to ≤ 100 CFU/g (mL), which is 10 times more stringent than that of ordinary cosmetics.At the same time, it is also necessary to implement the requirements of the "Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Children's Cosmetics" on the formulation design (safety first, necessary for efficacy, minimal formulation), safety evaluation, labelling ("small golden shield" logo) and so on.