China’s Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients (IECIC) serves as the foundational reference for determining which ingredients may be legally used in cosmetics sold in China. In 2025 and 2026, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) undertook a major overhaul of the IECIC framework, establishing a dynamic adjustment mechanism and issuing several updates that add new ingredients, standardize nomenclature, and create a two-tier management structure. For foreign cosmetic manufacturers and importers, understanding the IECIC 2026 update is essential to ensure product formulations comply with China‘s regulatory requirements and avoid customs clearance issues. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of all 2025-2026 IECIC changes, lists newly approved ingredients, and offers practical compliance advice.
1. IECIC 2025-2026: Dynamic Adjustment Mechanism and Two-Tier Structure
On June 23, 2025, the NMPA issued Announcement No. 61 of 2025, introducing a dynamic adjustment mechanism for the IECIC and establishing a two-tier management structure:
- IECIC List I (IECIC I): A revised and refined version of the 2021 IECIC. Key changes include the removal of the “maximum historical use concentration” item, standardization of Chinese/INCI/English names for relevant ingredients, and updates to ingredient remarks in line with the Technical Specification for the Safety of Cosmetics[reference:0].
- IECIC List II (IECIC II): Comprises new cosmetic ingredients that have completed the three-year safety monitoring period and been assessed as compliant with applicable regulations[reference:1].
Effective immediately with the announcement, the NMPA no longer issues the IECIC in the form of official announcements. All future updates and related adjustment notes are proactively disclosed on the official NMPA website via the “Cosmetics → Cosmetic Query → Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients” query channel[reference:2].
2. IECIC II Additions (2025-2026)
Following the establishment of the two-tier system, six new cosmetic ingredients have been added to IECIC List II:
2.1 First Batch – June 23, 2025
The initial announcement added two ingredients to IECIC II[reference:3]:
- N-Acetylneuraminic Acid (唾液酸 / 燕窝酸) – humectant. Also known as sialic acid, a naturally occurring compound found in bird‘s nests and milk.
- β-Alanyl Hydroxyprolyl Diaminobutyric Acid Benzylamide (β-丙氨酰羟脯氨酰二氨基丁酸苄酰胺) – skin protectant. A peptide ingredient with skin conditioning properties.
2.2 Second Batch – October 20, 2025
The second dynamic update added three new cosmetic ingredients to IECIC II[reference:4]:
- Lauroyl Alanine (月桂酰丙氨酸) – cleansing agent. An amino acid-based surfactant offering mild cleansing properties.
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane/Trimethylsiloxysilicate – film-forming agent.
- Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone – hair conditioning agent[reference:5].
2.3 Third Batch – April 13, 2026
The fourth dynamic update (third addition to IECIC II) added Saussurea involucrata callus powder (snow lotus callus powder / 雪莲花愈伤组织粉) to IECIC II. This ingredient is the 6th new ingredient added to List II, with intended use as an antioxidant. It can be used in all cosmetic product types, except those with inhalation risk[reference:6][reference:7].
This ingredient’s inclusion is notable as it originated from a new ingredient filed in 2021 by Dalian Puric Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., which completed its three-year safety monitoring period and was subsequently re-named and added to IECIC II[reference:8]. This demonstrates the dynamic mechanism in action: new ingredients filed today will potentially appear in IECIC II three years later after successful monitoring.
As of April 2026, a total of six new cosmetic ingredients have been included in IECIC List II[reference:9].
3. IECIC I Updates – Name Standardization (2025-2026)
Beyond adding new ingredients to List II, the NMPA has also been systematically standardizing the Chinese names, INCI names, and English names of existing ingredients in IECIC I to ensure regulatory consistency and alignment with international terminology.
3.1 October 20, 2025 – 49 Ingredients Standardized
The October 2025 dynamic update standardized information for 49 ingredients in IECIC I, including correcting spelling errors, aligning with botanical classification updates, and adjusting for consistency with international databases[reference:10].
3.2 January 4, 2026 – Three Ingredients Moved from New Raw Material to IECIC I
On January 4, 2026, the NMPA announced the third dynamic adjustment to IECIC I[reference:11]. Three ingredients that were previously managed as new cosmetic ingredients (after completing safety monitoring and assessment) were officially added to IECIC I:
- Black Ginseng Extract (黑参提取物)
- Zinc Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate (水解透明质酸锌)
- Galactomannan (半乳甘露聚糖)
In addition, the adjustment standardized the Chinese names, English/INCI names and remarks for 23 existing ingredients in IECIC I[reference:12].
3.3 April 13, 2026 – 49 Names Standardized (Fourth Update)
The fourth dynamic update (implemented April 13, 2026) standardized the Chinese names and/or INCI/English names of 49 ingredients in IECIC I, in addition to adding snow lotus callus powder to IECIC II[reference:13][reference:14].
A key note for international manufacturers: some revised names now differ from the names currently used in the EU CosIng database and the US INCI database. For example, ERIOCAULON BUERGARIANUM FLOWER/STEM EXTRACT (an extract of the Buerger‘s pipewort plant) has been updated to ERIOCAULON BUERGERIANUM FLOWER/STEM EXTRACT, reflecting botanical taxonomy corrections, whereas EU and US databases still use the older spelling[reference:15]. Importers should be aware that ingredient names on product packaging may not match the IECIC I standardized names, potentially causing compliance issues. The NMPA recommends using the standardized names in Chinese labeling[reference:16].
4. Cosmetic New Ingredient Filing Trends (2025-2026)
Under the Regulations on Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics (2021), new cosmetic ingredients must undergo either registration (for high-risk ingredients) or filing (for general ingredients) followed by a three-year safety monitoring period. The number of new ingredient filings has grown dramatically:
- 2025 saw 171 new cosmetic ingredients filed (including both registration and filing), a historic high[reference:17]. Of these, the NMPA approved 2 registration applications (one domestic, one imported)[reference:18]. Filing numbers grew by 87.78% year-on-year[reference:19].
- January 2026 continued the momentum with 19 new ingredient filings, a 90% increase compared to January 2025[reference:20]. As of April 27, 2026, a total of 67 new cosmetic ingredients had been filed[reference:21].
Notable new filings in 2026 include:
- N-acetylneuraminic acid variants – Additional filers have submitted sialic acid-related ingredients[reference:22].
- Plant-based ingredients – Tree tomato fruit extract, Nitraria tangutorum fruit extract, and various traditional Chinese medicinal plant extracts[reference:23].
- Dihydroxyphenylethanol (Hydroxytyrosol) – A natural polyphenol found in olive oil, filed by multiple companies for use as an antioxidant and skin conditioning agent[reference:24].
- Peptide ingredients – Hexapeptide-129 (six companies filed to date)[reference:25][reference:26].
5. Practical Compliance Recommendations for Cosmetic Importers
To ensure compliance with the latest IECIC requirements, cosmetic importers should take the following steps:
5.1 Verify Ingredient Inclusion in IECIC I or II
Before importing any cosmetic product, confirm that every ingredient in the formulation is either listed in IECIC I (existing ingredient) or IECIC II (post-monitoring new ingredient). If an ingredient is a new cosmetic ingredient that has not yet completed the three-year safety monitoring period, the product may still be legal if the ingredient has been properly filed and remains within its monitoring period – but additional safety monitoring reporting obligations apply.
5.2 Compare INCI Names with IECIC I Standardized Names
Given the recent name standardization updates (affecting 49+49=98 ingredients across the two 2025-2026 updates), importers should check whether the INCI name used on their foreign product label matches the IECIC I standardized name. If not, the Chinese label must use the IECIC I standardized name. This is particularly important for ingredients that have undergone botanical taxonomy corrections (e.g., ERIOCAULON BUERGARIANUM vs. ERIOCAULON BUERGERIANUM)[reference:27].
5.3 Use the NMPA IECIC Query Portal
The NMPA“s official IECIC query portal (accessible via ”Cosmetics → Cosmetic Query → Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients“ on the NMPA website) allows real-time verification of ingredient inclusion and name status. Bookmark this site and use it during formulation development.
5.4 Monitor NMPA Website for Ongoing Updates
Because the NMPA no longer issues consolidated announcements, importers should regularly check the NMPA website for incremental updates. The dynamic adjustment mechanism means that new ingredients may be added to IECIC II and IECIC I names may be corrected without prior notice.
5.5 Plan Ahead for New Ingredient Development
If your product contains a novel ingredient not yet in IECIC, you must file it as a new cosmetic ingredient. The filing process typically requires a comprehensive safety assessment package and triggers a three-year safety monitoring period. Many companies are now filing ingredients preemptively, as evidenced by the 67 filings in the first four months of 2026 alone[reference:28].
5.6 Engage a Local Regulatory Agent
Given the complexity of the dynamic adjustment mechanism and the importance of accurate ingredient name matching, working with a Chinese regulatory agent is strongly recommended. An agent can verify ingredient compliance, prepare filing documentation, and monitor NMPA updates on your behalf.
Summary: The IECIC 2026 update represents a foundational shift in China‘s cosmetic ingredient management system. The establishment of a dynamic adjustment mechanism and two-tier structure (IECIC I for existing ingredients, IECIC II for post-monitoring new ingredients) allows NMPA to update the Inventory continuously. Key additions to IECIC II include snow lotus callus powder and five other new ingredients. Name standardization updates have affected nearly 100 existing ingredients, with some names now differing from EU and US databases. New ingredient filings surged in 2025-2026, with 171 filings in 2025 and 67 in early 2026 alone. Cosmetic importers must proactively verify ingredient inclusion, match INCI names to IECIC I standardized names, monitor NMPA updates, and consider filing novel ingredients early. With proper preparation and expert guidance, compliance with the new IECIC framework is achievable, paving the way for successful market entry into China’s growing cosmetics market.