GB7916-1987
Hygienic standard for cosmetics
化妆品卫生标准
GB 7916-1987 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Hygienic standard for cosmetics. It appears in the Food compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Oct 1, 1987.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard applies to the production, distribution, and importation of cosmetics within China. It covers products applied to the skin, hair, nails, and oral mucosa for cleaning, protection, and beautification purposes. It is mandatory for both domestic manufacturers and importers of cosmetic products. The standard does not apply to certain special theatrical cosmetics, which are subject to separate regulations.
Technical requirements
The standard establishes comprehensive hygienic requirements focusing on general safety, raw material restrictions, and product quality. Cosmetics must not cause skin irritation or infection and must be safe for consumer use. Regarding raw materials, the standard provides extensive lists of prohibited substances (Table 2) and restricted ingredients (Tables 3-6). It specifies maximum allowable concentrations for limited-use substances, preservatives, UV filters, and colorants. Manufacturers must strictly adhere to these ingredient lists and concentration limits to ensure compliance. For finished products, the standard sets strict microbiological limits. For example, eye, lip, oral mucosa, and children's cosmetics have stricter total bacterial count limits compared to general cosmetics. Specific pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus must not be detected. Additionally, the standard regulates toxic substance limits (Table 1), including maximum levels for mercury, lead, arsenic, and methanol. It also mandates that packaging materials be non-toxic and clean, and requires specific labeling in Chinese, including product name, manufacturer, batch number, and usage instructions for medicated or potentially irritating products.
Testing methods
Compliance verification involves specific testing methodologies outlined in companion standards. Chemical analysis of toxic substances is conducted according to GB 7917.1~7917.4-87 (Standard Methods of Hygienic Test for Cosmetics). Microbiological testing follows GB 7918.1~7918.5-87 (Standard Methods of Microbiological Examination for Cosmetics). Safety evaluation of ingredients and products is performed using the procedures detailed in GB 7919-87 (Procedures and Methods for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics).
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 7916-1987?
GB 7916-1987 regulates all cosmetic products applied to the human body surface (skin, hair, nails, lips) or oral mucosa for cleaning, skincare, beautification, or modification purposes. This includes both domestically produced and imported cosmetics.
Are there specific microbiological requirements for children's cosmetics under this standard?
Yes, the standard imposes stricter microbiological limits for cosmetics used on eyes, lips, oral mucosa, as well as products intended for infants and children. The total bacterial count for these products must not exceed 500 CFU/ml or 500 CFU/g, and specific pathogens must be absent.
Does GB 7916-1987 include a list of prohibited ingredients?
Yes, the standard contains a comprehensive list of prohibited substances (Table 2) that must not be used as cosmetic ingredients. It also includes separate tables for restricted substances, preservatives, UV absorbers, and colorants with specific concentration limits and usage conditions.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 7916-1987. To ensure complete compliance for your cosmetic products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 7916-1987 today to access all detailed parameter tables, prohibited substance lists, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Health and hygiene
- CCS
- C51
- ICS
- 71.100.70
- Competent department
- National Medical Products Administration
- Technical committee
- National Medical Products Administration