Thinking of Exporting to China? Start With This Guide

07 Jun 2026

China has a strong consumer base with interest in premium skincare and appetite for Western brands as demonstrated at the recent launch of the British Beauty Festival in Shanghai. The Chinese market presents great opportunities for British beauty brands with the Department for Business and Trade valuing this at £60 billion. However, the regulatory environment for cosmetics is quite dynamic and requires careful consideration.

Animal testing

Imported general cosmetics (anything that does not include whitening and/or freckle-removing, sun-screening, anti-hair loss, or any product claiming new efficacies) are no longer required to undergo mandatory pre-market animal testing in China for both standard trade and cross-border e-commerce so long as these steps are followed.
The manufacturer must obtain a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificate from the relevant government department of their country of origin. In the UK, this is the Department for Business and Trade. Your compliance will be assessed by the Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
You can apply for an export certificate here.

National Medical Products Administration

As with many other markets, the national regulator–in this case the NMPA–requires one to have a Responsible Person. The Responsible Person must be a China-based party, legally liable for your compliance and product safety.
The NMPA differentiates between general cosmetics and special cosmetics. The former category includes products such as shampoo and moisturiser and requires only a notification to be submitted to the NMPA.
Special cosmetics are products such as hair dye and sunscreen and require a full registration process.

Customs, duties and declarations

When your products pass through Chinese Customs, you may need to pay customs duty, import VAT (now typically 13%) and potentially a 15% consumption tax that can apply to high-end cosmetics (applies based on price per ml or unit).

In 2026 China also started piloting a digital labelling programme, with which you may need to comply.

Intellectual Property

Data security laws in China have changed in recent years, impacting how data can be collected, used, stored and protected. Review these changes to ensure you are remaining compliant.

Travel and Immigration

If you travel to China for work purposes, you may need a visa or work permit. Read the entry requirements.

If you are looking for a longer-term relocation, consult: Living in China guidance.

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