Non-special-purpose cosmetics [Photo/VCG]

Zhoushan aims to introduce at least 100 cosmetic companies and import 5,000 new arrivals of non-special-purpose cosmetics worth $1 billion by 2021, according to a three-year action plan recently released by the local government.

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. 

The city's cosmetic industry is currently in full swing thanks to the streamlined administration for non-special-purpose cosmetic imports at its China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ). 

Normally, the import of non-special-purpose cosmetics requires approval from the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) headquartered in Beijing before entering the domestic market, a process which takes at least three months for companies to go through. 

Following Shanghai, which piloted the record filing system last year to streamline the administrative procedures for such imports, Zhejiang FTZ gained approval in March to be one of the nation's another 10 pilot zones for the system. 

Instead of seeking for CFDA approval, companies can now obtain a registration certificate after filing a record for a non-special-purpose cosmetic product in any of these pilot zones, and conduct their import business as soon as possible. 

"It's really convenient as we get the registration certificate within a day in Zhoushan," said a manager from the Hangzhou branch of the Japanese cosmetic company Kose, who obtained a registration certificate for a new arrival within 30 minutes after she submitted the related documents on Dec 10. 

Huang Gang, general manager of the Korean cosmetic trade company Kona Zhoushan, also obtained two registration certificates that day, saying that they used to wait in a long queue in Beijing for the seeking of an approval. 

Zhoushan has issued 17 registration certificates for non-special-purpose cosmetic imports since April, with 10 companies working on such imports having settled in the city.

The global e-commerce giant Alibaba and the Zhejiang FTZ sign an agreement for the facilitation of non-special-purpose cosmetic imports on Aug 18. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]