On April 24, 2026, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) issued the Notice on Issuing the 2026 Cosmetics Standard Project Initiation Plan. The plan includes a total of 27 standards related to the cosmetics sector, among which Determination Method for Water Resistance of Sunscreen Cosmetics is a revised standard, and all the rest are newly formulated standards.

On 28 April 2026, the European Commission issued Regulation (EU) 2026/909, which amends and updates the usage rules for multiple cosmetic ingredients, including benzyl salicylate, triphenyl phosphate, HC Yellow No 16 as well as DHHB, etc. This regulation revises Annexes II, III, IV and V of the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

On April 24, 2026, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Union issued final opinion (SCCS/1687/25) on Silver (CAS No 7440-22-4) used in cosmetic products. Compared with the preliminary opinion released on December 18, 2025, the final version issued this time has been updated (all updated parts have been indicated in red).

On April 15, 2026, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced a second extension of the initial PFAS products reporting deadline, moving it from July 1, 2026 to September 15, 2026. Upon completion of the initial report, subsequent annual reports are due each February 1. Manufacturers unable to meet the deadline may apply for a single 90-day extension (to December 14, 2026).

On April 21, 2026, South Korea's National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) released a draft revision of the "Guidelines for Analytical Methods for Cosmetic Usage Limit Ingredients (Citizen Guide)" through the Korea Cosmetic Association (KCIA) for public comment. The public comment period closed on April 24, 2026. The revision adds 18 new analytical methods and improves existing methods for triclosan and zinc pyrithione.

On April 16, 2026, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) of the European Union issued final opinion (SCCS/1682/25) on Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) (CAS No. 25013-16-5). Compared to the preliminary opinion issued on 17 November 2025, the final opinion has maintained the same.

On April 20, 2026, the Korea Cosmetic Association (KCIA) issued Notice No. 4-161, forwarding document No. 2757 from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) Cosmetic Policy Division. The notice announces a legislative proposal initiated by Representative Baek Jong-heon to partially amend the Cosmetics Act, and invites public comments. The core objectives of the proposed amendment are to strengthen regulatory measures against the sale of "IP-infringing cosmetics" and to establish an export support mechanism. The KCIA feedback deadline is April 23, 2026.

On April 13, 2026, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) carried out the fourth dynamic adjustment to the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China, involving a total of 50 records. For certain ingredients revised in IECIC I, the updated names differ from those currently listed in the EU Cosmetic Ingredient Catalogue ((EU) 2025/1175) and the US INCI database.

On April 15, 2026, the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) published six technical guidelines regaeding hair dye, perm and sunscreen cosmetics. The promulgation and implementation of the above technical guidelines provide normative technical basis for the study and quality control of above three kinds of cosmetics.

Based on data retrieved from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), twelve new cosmetic ingredients have been filed between April 1 and April 13, 2026. Detailed information is provided in the table below. At present, the associated technical specifications have not been made public, and the ingredient has not yet entered the post-filing monitoring period. As of now in 2026, a total of 63 new cosmetic ingredients have been filed.