IECIC

Origin

The Inventory was first compiled and is periodically updated by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China, reflecting the nation’s stringent regulatory approach to cosmetic safety and ingredient management. Its establishment was a direct response to the need for a clear, standardized system to regulate the vast array of ingredients used in the burgeoning global beauty and personal care industry. The latest major revision, the IECIC 2021 Edition, formalized this critical regulatory benchmark.

Mechanism

The Inventory functions as a positive-list mechanism: if an ingredient is present, its use is generally permitted under certain conditions; if absent, it triggers a regulatory requirement for a new ingredient application. This mechanism forces manufacturers to conduct extensive toxicological and safety assessments for novel compounds, which is particularly relevant for new peptides, growth factors, and other biologically active substances increasingly used in the cosmeceutical sector. The system is designed to safeguard consumer health and ensure product quality within the Chinese market.