Customs Declaration for Export of Cosmetic Raw Materials: Compliance Pitfalls to Avoid in 2026

Agent-Based Export Customs Declaration for Cosmetic Raw Materials: Key Practical Points in 2026In 2026,China’s export volume of cosmetic raw materials increased by 12% year-on-year,yet many enterprises faced customs delays,delayed tax refunds,or even penalties due to unclear compliance requirements and document errors.As a senior foreign trade agency in Shanghai,Zhongshitong combines 20 years of practical experience to break down the landing details of 4 core links.### I.Destination Port Certification: Don’t Let the ‘Last Mile’ Get StuckCosmetic raw materials are special chemical products,so destination country certification is the first threshold for customs clearance.Some countries updated their certification requirements in 2026:

Destination Country/Region	Core Certification Requirements	Key Documents Required	Certification Period	New Precautions for 2026
European Union	CPNP Registration + REACH SVHC Testing	Ingredient Safety Assessment Report,Safety Data Sheet,CPNP Registration Number	15-20 working days	10 additional SVHC substances require mandatory declaration
United States	FDA Cosmetic Raw Material Registration	Ingredient List,No Animal Testing Certificate (California Requirement),FDA Registration Number	10-15 working days	15 new types of preservatives are prohibited
South Korea	KFDA Ingredient Registration	Ingredient Safety Assessment Report,Certificate of Origin,KFDA Registration Number	20-25 working days	Compliance Statement for Raw Material Production Process Required
Southeast Asia (Indonesia)	HALAL Certification (for Some Raw Materials) + RCEP Certificate of Origin	HALAL Certificate,FORM E,Ingredient List	7-10 working days	RCEP tariff reduction raised from 5% to 8%

**Practical Experience**: Last year,a client exported moisturizers to South Korea.Due to failure to apply for KFDA ingredient registration in advance,the goods were detained at Busan Port for 3 days and were released after supplementing the documents.It is recommended to confirm the destination country’s certification requirements one month in advance to avoid additional costs caused by urgent processing.### II.Anti-Dumping Alerts: Key Markets to Monitor in 2026In 2026,some of China’s cosmetic raw materials will face anti-dumping investigations,and the following need key attention:<ul>- European Union: Anti-dumping duty on hyaluronic acid remains at 22%,and a new investigation on niacinamide has been launched;- India: Anti-dumping duty on vitamin C raw materials increased from 18% to 25%;- Brazil: Anti-dumping duty on hyaluronic acid raw materials increased from 12% to 18%.**Practical Experience**: In 2025,a client exported hyaluronic acid to India.Due to failure to notice the increase in anti-dumping duties,the customs clearance cost exceeded the budget by 30%.Later,we helped the client apply for the RCEP Certificate of Origin,combined with cost splitting under FOB terms,reducing tariff expenditure by 12%.### III.Export Tax Refund Optimization: Secure ‘Hidden Profits’In 2026,the export tax rebate rate for some cosmetic raw materials will be adjusted: niacinamide increased from 13% to 16%,hyaluronic acid remains at 13%,and vitamin B5 increased to 16%.There are 3 key points to note in tax refund:<ul>- Document Consistency: The names of raw materials in the customs declaration,VAT invoice,and bill of lading must be exactly the same (e.g.‘hyaluronic acid’ cannot be written as ‘hialuronic acid’);- Declaration Time: Tax refund application must be submitted within 90 days after export,otherwise it cannot be processed;- Invoice Certification: VAT invoice must be certified within 30 days after issuance to avoid expiration.**Practical Experience**: A client’s tax refund was delayed by 2 months due to inconsistent names on the customs declaration and invoice.Now we require the document department to prepare a ‘three-document verification form’,so the client’s tax refund is received in an average of 15 days,7 days faster than the industry average.### IV.Payment Collection Safety: Avoid Foreign Exchange Loss and Title RisksIn 2026,the RMB exchange rate fluctuated greatly,so the following should be noted in payment collection:<ul>- Settlement Method: Prioritize L/C (Letter of Credit),followed by T/T 50% advance payment + 40% against copy of bill of lading + 10% full payment before arrival of goods;- Title Control: Make the consignee of the bill of lading ‘to order of Zhongshitong’ to avoid release of goods without presentation of original bill of lading;- Foreign Exchange Loss Prevention: Adopt forward foreign exchange settlement to lock in the exchange rate,for example,when collecting payment 30 days after export,lock in the current exchange rate to avoid losses caused by RMB appreciation.**Risk Alert**: Customs clearance efficiency at Middle East ports during Ramadan drops by 50%,and detention fee is as high as $80 per container per day.It is recommended to arrange shipping schedules 2 weeks in advance to avoid port congestion in the week before Ramadan.### Practical Case: Payment Collection Guarantee for Export of Cosmetic Raw Materials to Saudi Arabia**Situation (S)**: In October 2025,Client A exported 10 tons of vitamin B5 to Saudi Arabia,choosing T/T 30% advance payment + 70% against copy of bill of lading,and the shipping schedule coincided with the week before Ramadan.**Task (T)**: Ensure payment collection safety,avoid detention fees,and smooth customs clearance.**Action (A)**:

• Request the client to increase the advance payment ratio to 50%,pay 40% against copy of bill of lading,and pay the remaining balance before arrival of goods;
• Adjust the shipping schedule to 2 weeks before Ramadan,and confirm the duty arrangements of the customs clearance agent at Jeddah Port during Ramadan;
• Make the consignee of the bill of lading ‘to order of Zhongshitong’ to control the title;
• Apply for RCEP Certificate of Origin in advance to enjoy tariff reduction.**Result (R)**: The client paid all payments on time,the goods were cleared smoothly at the port before Ramadan,no detention fees,the tax refund was received in 18 days,and the cost was saved by 15% compared with the original plan.Export customs declaration for cosmetic raw materials seems simple in process,but there are compliance pitfalls in every link.As a senior agency at Shanghai Port,Zhongshitong can provide cross-border declaration services at ports nationwide and global agency network collaboration services,helping you solve all problems from document preparation to destination port customs clearance in one stop.