Full Process Analysis and Key Compliance Points Explanation for Taizhou Enterprises Importing South Korean Cosmetics

Market Status and Operational Difficulties for Taizhou Enterprises Importing Cosmetics from South Korea

In the first quarter of 2026,the volume of cosmetics imported through Taizhou port increased by 17% year-on-year,among which South Korean makeup and skincare products accounted for more than 60%.Such products have short cycles and fast iterations,but face multiple regulatory challenges.The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) implements filing management for imported ordinary cosmetics,while special cosmetic products require registration and approval,with a cycle ranging from three months to one year.Many small and medium-sized trading companies in Taizhou often have problems such as incomplete documents,non-compliant labels,and vague ingredient descriptions due to unfamiliarity with regulations,resulting in goods being detained at the port and additional storage fees incurred.

Manager Yao has operated a beauty supply chain in Taizhou for five years.At the end of 2025,a batch of South Korean facial masks he imported was required to undergo technical rectification by the customs because the molecular weight range of "hyaluronic acid" was not marked on the ingredient list,delaying the sales peak.Such cases are not isolated.Documents provided by South Korean cosmetics exporters,such as Korean-language test reports and free sale certificates,often do not meet the format requirements of Chinese customs.In addition,the 2026 new version of the Regulations on Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics has stricter review of efficacy claims.Terms such as "whitening" and "anti-wrinkle" require human efficacy test reports,and many Taizhou importers are not adequately prepared for this.

Core Role of Zhongshen in the Cosmetics Import Chain

Zhongshen has handled cosmetics import business since 2006,and has witnessed the complete policy evolution from paper customs declaration to a single window,and from filing system to registration system.Our value does not lie in simple document transfer,but in translating regulatory requirements into executable operational steps.For Taizhou customers,we have established a dedicated South Korean cosmetics database,which contains filing information,historical customs clearance records and solutions to common problems of more than 200 brands.

When customers put forward import demands,we first conduct a pre-assessment of product compliance.This link checks whether the product is a special cosmetic product,whether the ingredients contain prohibited substances,and whether the label design meets the requirements of the Measures for the Administration of Cosmetic Labels.We will also intervene in advance for the newly added "cosmetic raw material safety information reporting" requirement in 2026,assisting South Korean manufacturers to complete raw material information registration,so as to avoid failure to declare due to missing raw material information after the goods arrive at the port.This proactive working model can shorten customs clearance time by more than 40%.

Full Process Breakdown and Key Nodes of Cosmetics Import

Phase 1: Document Pre-examination and Filing Preparation

Before official shipment,we need to collect and review the full set of documents.Documents provided by South Korean exporters,such as product formulas,brief production processes,and quality control standards,must undergo professional translation and format adjustment.Zhongshen’s cosmetics specialists will check the Chinese labels word by word to ensure that the product name,ingredients,usage methods,precautions and other information are accurate.In 2026,the focus of customs label review has shifted to the consistency between electronic labels and physical products.We require customers to provide both label samples and electronic label data files.

In the filing link,ordinary cosmetics need to submit materials to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) filing management system.Zhongshen will assist customers in preparing nine core documents including product implementation standards,test reports,and safety assessment materials.It is worth noting that some popular South Korean ingredients such as centella asiatica extract require specific extraction processes and content detection methods under the 2026 new regulations.We will communicate with South Korean laboratories in advance to ensure that the test reports meet Chinese standards.

Phase 2: Port Customs Declaration and Tax Accounting

After the goods arrive at the port,the core of the customs declaration link is accurate classification.Cosmetic HS codes involve multiple chapters such as 3303 and 3304,and tax rates vary significantly across different categories.If a South Korean lipstick is classified as "lip cosmetics",the most-favored-nation (MFN) tariff rate is 5%; if it is incorrectly classified as "other beauty products",the tax rate may be as high as 10%.Zhongshen’s classification specialists will determine the optimal code based on the product’s ingredients,usage,packaging specifications,combined with customs classification decisions and precedents.

Regarding taxes and fees,in addition to tariffs and 13% value-added tax,some high-end cosmetics also need to pay consumption tax.In 2026,the consumption tax threshold was adjusted to a tax-exclusive price of more than 10 yuan per milliliter (gram),and many South Korean mid-to-high-end brands just fall at the critical point.We will conduct accurate calculations before declaration to help customers assess costs.When filling in the customs declaration form,incorrect filling in of columns such as "brand type" and "export preferential treatment status" may result in failure to enjoy the preferential tariff rate of the China-ROK Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA).We will double-check such details.

Phase 3: Customs Inspection and Commodity Inspection Sampling

Cosmetics are statutory inspection commodities,and the port customs inspection rate is about 30%.The key points of inspection include label compliance,ingredient consistency,product shelf life,etc.Zhongshen has resident personnel at Taizhou port,who can explain product characteristics on-site when cooperating with customs inspection.In 2026,the customs has promoted the "intelligent image review" system.For products with complex packaging patterns,the system may mistakenly judge them as infringement risks,so we need to prepare complete brand authorization chain certificates in advance.

Commodity inspection sampling is another key node.Samples of the same batch of products need to be sent to the laboratory for testing,including microorganisms,heavy metals,prohibited substances and other items.Zhongshen has established long-term cooperation with Taizhou commodity inspection laboratories,and understands the testing cycles and common problems of various products.For example,a South Korean brand’s air cushion foundation was found to have butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) content close to the limit,and we required the South Korean side to adjust the formula in advance to avoid the risk of non-compliance.The testing cycle is usually 15 working days,and we will synchronously promote other links to achieve simultaneous inspection and release.

Phase 4: Warehouse Management and Distribution Arrangement

Cosmetics have strict warehouse environment requirements,and changes in temperature and humidity may affect product quality.Zhongshen has a constant-temperature warehouse in Taizhou Bonded Zone,with temperature controlled at 22-25℃ and humidity maintained at 45%-65%.When storing goods,we implement the first-in,first-out (FIFO) principle,and strictly manage product batch numbers and shelf lives.The cosmetic electronic traceability code system implemented in 2026 requires each batch of products to establish an electronic file.Our WMS system has been connected to the regulatory platform to realize automatic data upload.

In the distribution link,for local beauty retail customers in Taizhou,we provide integrated "distribution + delivery" services.For products that need to enter mall counters,we will also assist in handling the inspection reports and copies of filing certificates required for mall entry.Some customers need to attach Chinese labels,and our warehouse is equipped with automatic labeling machines to ensure that the label position and flatness meet the specifications.

Actual Case: South Korean Facial Mask Customs Clearance Project for a Taizhou Importer

In March 2026,the company of General Manager Yin in Taizhou planned to import a batch of South Korean "hyaluronic acid hydrating facial masks",totaling 8 SKUs,with a value of about 2 million yuan.During the preliminary communication,we found that this series of products claimed "72-hour long-lasting moisturizing" in the South Korean market.According to Chinese regulations,this belongs to efficacy claims and requires human efficacy test reports.However,the South Korean side could only provide in vitro test data.

Zhongshen suggested adjusting the publicity strategy,changing "72 hours" to "long-lasting moisturizing",and supplementing a moisturizing effect evaluation report issued by a third-party institution.During the label review link,we found that the font height of the ingredient list on the back of the product packaging was only 1.5 mm,which was lower than the regulatory requirement of 1.8 mm,and immediately required the South Korean side to redesign the packaging.At the same time,this series of facial masks contains the preservative phenoxyethanol,and we prepared a safety assessment report for this raw material in advance for customs verification.

After the goods arrived at the port,the customs sampled 3 SKUs for testing.Because we communicated the testing focus with the laboratory in advance,we successfully obtained the qualified report after 15 working days.The entire project took 38 days from filing to release,12 days shorter than the customer’s expectation.General Manager Yin’s batch of goods was launched before the June 18 shopping spree,achieving the expected sales target.According to the post-project review,if the efficacy claims and label issues had not been handled in advance,it would have been delayed by at least one month,missing the sales peak.

Summary of the Core Value of Zhongshen’s Services

Cosmetics import is not a simple logistics transportation,but a comprehensive project involving regulations,technology and business.Zhongshen’s 20 years of accumulation is reflected in three aspects: first,policy translation ability,which can transform abstract regulatory provisions into specific operation checklists; second,risk prediction ability,which identifies potential problems in advance through databases and historical cases; third,resource integration ability,coordinating South Korean suppliers,testing institutions and port departments to form a service closed loop.

For Taizhou customers,we provide localized services,with a liaison office in Taizhou and on-site office two days a week to answer customer questions on the spot.The tightening of cosmetics import supervision in 2026 is a general trend,and the cost for enterprises to act alone is getting higher and higher.The role of Zhongshen is to allow customers to focus on market development,leaving the complexity of compliance and customs clearance to us.This division of labor model ultimately results in faster launch speed,lower violation risks,and more controllable comprehensive costs.

• It is recommended to reserve 30 working days for preparing filing materials,and add 60 days of registration time for special cosmetic products
• The free sale certificate provided by South Korean suppliers needs to be notarized locally and authenticated by the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Korea
• Chinese labels must include nine elements such as product Chinese name,ingredients,net content,shelf life,and filing number
• Starting from 2026,cosmetics containing new raw materials need to provide authorization certificates for raw material manufacturers
• During port inspection,it is recommended that customer representatives be present to facilitate on-site explanation of product characteristics
• Establish import files with a retention period of no less than one year after the product’s shelf life for subsequent regulatory inspections