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In March 2026, CTPA and the UK Government formed a joint industry and government delegation to deliver the first technical exchange under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and China’s National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), signed in October 2025 (See News Item).
The exchange focused on taking forward the MoU by bringing together regulators and cosmetics industry to share expertise, particularly on New Approach Methodologies for cosmetic safety assessment. Supported by OPSS, this also pointed to a shift towards more practical work, with industry playing a central role and CTPA facilitating the coordination of UK industry input.
This engagement took place alongside ongoing regulatory reform in China, at a time when the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) set out its policy direction through the 'Deepening Cosmetics Regulatory Reform to Promote High-Quality Development of the Industry'. Its focus on maintaining high standards whilst supporting innovation, moving closer to international best practices and expanding the use of alternative methods to animal testing aligned closely with the discussions, helping to reinforce the direction of ongoing collaboration.
During the visit, CTPA set out the role of the UK cosmetics industry in supporting this work, contributing through knowledge sharing, collaboration and input into the implementation of NMPA policy.
As part of the visit, CTPA also met with the China Association of Fragrance, Flavour and Cosmetic Industries (CAFFCI) to explore areas for further cooperation, training and collaboration on technical guidance. These ongoing discussions highlighted the commitment of both trade associations to continue collaboration providing a clearer indication of how engagement could develop, particularly in relation to upcoming events.
CTPA will continue to engage with members to help shape industry input and support the next phase of technical collaboration under the MoU.
