15 Nov 2012, the State Food & Drug Administration (SFDA) has issued a notice No.307-2012 to simplify the procedure of changing the name or address of cosmetic manufacturer or Chinese responsible agent provided that production site remains unchanged. The notice will come into force on 1st Feb 2013.

The applicant must fill out the designated application form for changing the name or address.

The manufacturer of imported cosmetics shall prepare the following documents: 1) relevant evidential documents issued by the competent authority or related institutions; 2) the copy of the newly-SFDA-recorded Power of Attorney of the registration responsible agent in China. In the case that the change of name or address is due to merger or acquisition, he or she could also submit the copy of the related contract. All foreign files must be translated authentically and go through notarization by a Chinese notary organ.

If the name or address of the responsible agent for registration of imported cosmetics is changed, he is obliged to submit relevant original evidential documents issued by the local administrative department of industry & commerce or the corresponding notarized copies.

The producer of domestic cosmetics need not only the proof from local administrative department of industry & commerce but also the copy of the hygiene license for the production enterprise as well as the document to prove the manufacturing site is not changed issued by the provincial food and drug department.

The Application and Acceptance Center under SFDA is in charge of accepting documents and issuing the administrative permit for change and an updated cosmetic license. The Technical Review Center is responsible for the examination of submitted information.

Within three months of receiving the administrative permit for change, the applicant must file an application to get the updated license.