China Import Guide: Oral Care Products
The growing focus on oral hygiene in China has driven demand for imported toothpaste, mouthwash, and tooth powders. These products fall under cosmetic or disinfectant regulation depending on ingredients and claims.
Under China’s Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (2021) and Labeling Rules (2022), brands must comply with strict filing and customs clearance requirements.
一. Product Categories & Supervision
| Product Type | Examples | Regulatory Scope | HS Code |
| Toothpaste | Fluoride, whitening, kids’ types | General cosmetics (NMPA filing) | 3306101000 |
| Tooth Powder | Mint, charcoal powder | Cosmetics or requires safety review | 3306109000 |
| Mouthwash | Alcoholic, anti-bacterial types | Cosmetics or disinfectants | 3306901000 or 3808940090 |
Regulatory Rule:
Mouthwash containing CHG ≥ 0.1% or povidone-iodine must follow disinfectant regulations.
二. Import Timeline
Month 1-3: Filing → Month 4: Customs → Week 5: CIQ Release
Real case (2024):
A European toothpaste brand experienced 2-month delays due to missing ingredient safety documentation in its filing.
三. Compliance Risk Chart
| Risk Area | Common Mistake | Best Practice |
| Label Mismatch | “Whitening” not translated into Chinese correctly | Use NMPA-approved bilingual label terminology |
| Medical Claims | “Treat ulcers” on mouthwash | Avoid medical terms unless product is a drug |
| Ingredient Omission | Functional extracts missing from filing records | Disclose all active ingredients clearly |
| Dangerous Goods | Alcohol ≥60% with no UN1170 / GHS labeling | Declare as DG, mark Flammable Liquid |
四. How Logistics Partners Support Compliance
- Label pre-review: reduce customs detention by 40%
- NMPA & disinfectant filing guidance and document templates
- DG handling for alcohol-based products (UN1170, GHS)
- Bilingual support and SOP management for global clients
Case Study:
In 2023, we assisted a Japanese brand in registering 5 toothpaste SKUs, achieving 100% clearance on first attempt, within an average of 5.2 working days.
五. Legal Reminders
- Per 2022 cosmetic label rules, toothpaste must state:
“This product cannot replace medical treatment.” - Disinfectant mouthwash must include filing ID (卫消备字) and avoid therapeutic claims
