Representatives of Alibaba and the Zhejiang FTZ sign an agreement for the facilitation of non-special-purpose cosmetic imports on Aug 18. [Photo/ mobile.zhoushan.cn]

The China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) signed a partnership agreement with Alibaba for the facilitation of non-special-purpose cosmetic imports on Aug 18, local media reported. 

The program, jointly launched by the administrative committee of Marine Industry Cluster Area of the Zhoushan Archipelago New Area, the Market Supervision Administration of Zhoushan Municipality, and Alibaba, aims to shorten the record filing period of non-special-purpose cosmetic imports by taking advantage of Zhejiang FTZ's new policy in this regard.

New arrivals of international cosmetic brands will soon be able to enter the domestic market by normal trade within two to three months of their release, instead of the duration of one year that it took in the past, enabling domestic consumers to buy the new arrivals online or offline in China as soon as they are released overseas, rather than resorting to cross-border e-commerce platforms or purchasing agents.

It is estimated that thousands of new cosmetic arrivals imported by Alibaba's proprietary store and other stores on its Tmall.com site will enter the domestic market through Zhejiang FTZ every year. 

It is also hoped that the program, by attracting more international cosmetic brands and traders to settle in Zhoushan via the channel of Alibaba, will help build Zhejiang FTZ into a leading platform for the international cosmetic trade in China.

Non-special-purpose cosmetics refer to cosmetics with no medicinal effects, such as hair care products, skin care products, lip care products, nail care products, perfumes and make-up.