New cosmetics import rules (GACC Decree No. 284) effective December 1, 2026: declaration materials, information records and bonded warehousing for importers.
On December 1, 2026, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) Decree No. 284, the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Imported and Exported Cosmetics, together with GACC Announcement No. 61 of 2026, officially takes effect. Published on 6 May 2026 after wide consultation, the new cosmetics import rules move inspection and quarantine supervision toward a more standardized, more granular model — and for importers of perfume, serums and color cosmetics, declaration materials, information records and filing requirements will all change. This guide covers what the regulation changes, what it means for perfume importers, and how a cosmetics bonded warehouse can smooth the transition. Always refer to official GACC publications for the authoritative text.
The Market Behind the Rule: Cosmetics Trade Keeps Growing
The new Measures land in a market that GACC itself describes as the world's largest cosmetics consumer market. At a press conference on 11 May 2026, Li Jinsong, director of GACC's Import and Export Food Safety Bureau, released the 2025 full-year figures: China's cosmetics imports and exports totalled RMB 171.61 billion in 2025, up 2.74% year on year, with imports at RMB 115.69 billion and exports at RMB 55.92 billion (source: GACC press conference, 11 May 2026; People's Daily Overseas Edition, 12 May 2026). Trade data for the first three quarters of 2025 point the same way: beauty and toiletries trade reached USD 18.21 billion, up 13.7%, with France, Japan, South Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom together accounting for 55.7% of imports (source: KPMG, 2025 China Beauty Market Industry Report, November 2025).
For a perfume importer with several SKU lines and monthly shipments, the stakes are concrete: the bigger the import flow, the more declarations, information records and inspections sit in the queue when the new rules start. GACC notified the revision to the WTO and set a transition period of more than six months so domestic and overseas enterprises can adapt (source: GACC press conference, 11 May 2026).
What Changes: Declaration Materials, Information Records and Definitions
According to GACC's official interpretation, the reform focuses on three areas of cosmetics inspection and quarantine:
| Area of change | What the new rules do | Why importers should care |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration materials | Specifies the content and format of materials submitted for import/export cosmetics declaration | A clearer checklist means fewer rejections if you prepare in advance |
| Information records | Details what must be recorded for imported cosmetics | Batch-level records must be complete and traceable |
| Definitions | Clarifies terms used in the Measures | Less ambiguity about regulatory scope |
| Declaring party | Importer declares as "domestic consignee" | Clear responsibility for registration/filing verification |
| Inspection location | Moved to the declared destination; designated-place storage abolished | More flexible logistics, stricter traceability |
The stated goal is to make supervision of imported and exported cosmetics more regulated and orderly. For importers, the practical effect is greater certainty: the requirements are spelled out in the rules, so compliance cost comes down to who understands the new cosmetics import regulation first. We recommend reconciling your declaration templates with the latest requirements before December 1, while there is still runway.
Declaration Details under Announcement No. 61 of 2026
Announcement No. 61 of 2026 (published 11 May 2026) fills in the operational details that the Measures leave to principle. Three points matter most in practice:
- Declare as domestic consignee: cosmetics importers must declare on the import declaration form as the "domestic consignee," taking responsibility for verifying that the goods are registered or filed and meet mandatory national standards (source: GACC Announcement No. 61 of 2026);
- Fill the registration or filing number: under the "product licence" field (licence category code 526), fill the special cosmetics registration number or the ordinary cosmetics filing number obtained from the drug administration; customs verifies the numbers automatically against electronic data;
- Know the exemptions: cosmetics for registration or filing, non-trial samples for enterprise testing, R&D and promotion, diplomatic goods, and non-sale exhibition cosmetics do not need the registration or filing number; sample "other materials" requirements are refined into three categories by use.
Impact on Perfume Importers: Clearance, Filing and Supervision
Perfume is a category with high batch frequency, deep SKU lines and relatively high value per shipment — exactly where new cosmetics import rules bite hardest. Three areas matter most:
- Perfume import customs clearance: With the content and format of declaration materials more clearly specified, one-shot documentation becomes critical. Working with a customs broker and warehouse operator that know the cosmetics import process materially reduces rejection and re-submission risk.
- Cosmetics import filing: Information records must now be more complete. Importers need a ledger covering batches, inspection and quarantine status, and movement history — every shipment traceable from source to destination.
- Imported cosmetics supervision: More standardized supervision means more targeted inspection of high-risk categories. Keep declared information consistent with the physical goods to avoid being flagged.
Note that the specific clauses, material lists and implementation details should be confirmed against official GACC releases; this article is a briefing, not a substitute for the official documents.
Compliance Checklist for Importers
- Reconcile declaration templates with the latest GACC requirements before December 1
- Build a batch-level information record ledger covering inspection and quarantine data
- Verify ingredient, label and origin data with overseas manufacturers
- Confirm your warehouse and broker partners hold supervised-bonded-warehouse qualifications
- Monitor the GACC website and 12360 hotline for implementation guidance
FAQ: Perfume Import Questions
When do the new cosmetics import rules take effect? GACC Decree No. 284 (published 6 May 2026) and Announcement No. 61 of 2026 take effect on December 1, 2026. Confirm details on the official GACC website.
How do the new rules affect perfume import customs clearance? The content and format of declaration materials are more precisely defined. Reconcile your material checklist with your broker and warehouse partners before the effective date to avoid rework during the initial rush.
Do imported cosmetics require filing? Imported cosmetics must complete declaration and information records under current supervision requirements; the new Measures also require the special cosmetics registration number or ordinary cosmetics filing number at declaration. Consult a professional customs service provider, and treat official publications as authoritative.
Is the consignee record-filing cancelled? Yes — the new Measures cancel the record-filing management for import cosmetics consignees and export cosmetics producers, and remove the requirement to store goods in designated or approved places; inspection moves to the declared destination (source: GACC press conference, 11 May 2026).
How can a cosmetics bonded warehouse help? A bonded warehouse lets you store, sort and label goods before duties are settled, matching inspection and quarantine timing while reducing working-capital pressure and compliance risk.
Get Ready Before December 1 — Move Compliance into the Bonded Warehouse
The weeks before December 1 are the window to update processes and templates. Yunxiu (Shanghai) Information Technology Co., Ltd., founded in 2014, operates a 4,170m² bonded warehouse, a 1,500m² non-bonded warehouse and a 1,000m² temperature-controlled facility (adjustable 18-25°C zones, 40-60% humidity with automatic regulation) in Shanghai. The company holds AEO Advanced Certification, ISO9001, Class-A freight-forwarder qualification and supervised-bonded-warehouse qualification, offering bonded perfume warehousing, Chinese label application and kitting services — with enterprise filing in 3 working days, goods entry in 1 working day and sorting within 24 hours. Labeling and import compliance work can be completed inside the zone before duties are settled; service fees are subject to our quotation.
Free consultation: +86 18917757529 / jaysun@yun-xiu.cn — ask for a cosmetics import compliance and customs clearance service proposal.
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This article was written by the Yunxiu Supply Chain Policy Research Center. Policy content subject to official GACC publications; policies prevail as officially published by the General Administration of Customs. Data updated to 2026.
