Executive Summary:
On February 21, 2007, China notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft policy change (G/SPS/N/CHN/100) on the BSE certification for cosmetic imports from countries infected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The closing date for submitting comments is April 20, 2007, and the new SPS measure will become effective on August 1, 2007.
According to the new policy, Chinese importers will no longer be requested to provide the Cosmetic Certificate for BSE issued by the health administrative department or officially authorized agencies in BSE-infected countries, including the United States, when they apply for health permits with the Ministry of Health (MOH) or declare for import inspection and quarantine with the Chinese entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureaus under the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
MOH and AQSIQ have jointly listed forbidden high-risk materials in cosmetics from BSE-infected countries as a reference for those manufacturing countries.
This announcement is positive news for U.S. suppliers since they will be no longer required to submit the BSE certificate issued by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA).
During 2004, in order to maintain market access for U.S. cosmetics in the wake of the December 2003 detection of BSE in the United States, FAS Beijing helped broker this interim certification requirement through CTFA.
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