Essential Terminology Resources

Authoritative databases for INCI nomenclature, ingredient compliance, and regulatory reference across major cosmetics markets

Global Compliance: Cosmetic Regulatory Ingredient Databases

Effective regulatory localization depends on reliable ingredient references, nomenclature systems, and market-specific compliance sources. These resources support terminology validation, INCI accuracy checks, safety assessment work, and regulatory status review across the European Union, United States, China, and Japan. Used with specialist localization expertise, they help teams prepare consistent, submission-ready documentation for the international market.

Quick Reference: Which Database for Which Task?

Process / Verification	Recommended Source
EU PIF/CPNP ingredient verification	CosIng database EU compliance
China NMPA ingredient verification	IECIC database China cosmetics
INCI name verification	PCPC INCI database localization
Chemical properties research	PubChem
US prohibited or restricted ingredients	FDA Cosmetics
Allergen and sensitivity research	SkinSAFE

Official Regulatory Sources

Regulatory databases should be used alongside the underlying legislation. A cosmetic ingredient database can help locate nomenclature, identifiers, restrictions, or historical information, but the legal status of a cosmetic product depends on the applicable law and its current annexes, standards, or technical specifications.

CosIng – EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database

European Commission
CosIng provides information on cosmetic substances and ingredients referenced in Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, the former Cosmetics Directive, the EU glossary of common ingredient names, and Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety opinions.

Database contents:
– INCI and common ingredient names
– CAS numbers and EC numbers
– Searchable ingredient records
– References to Annex restrictions and SCCS opinions
– Active and historical entries

Important: CosIng is informative and does not itself confer approval or legal status. For EU compliance, verify the relevant provisions and Annexes of Regulation EC No 1223/2009. The database may include restricted, prohibited, historical, or otherwise non-authorized entries.

Essential for: PIF terminology checks, CPNP preparation, ingredient-list review, Annex research, and nomenclature validation.

IECIC – China Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients

National Medical Products Administration / NIFDC
China’s Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients is a core reference for cosmetic ingredient compliance. Since 2025, it has been managed dynamically as List I and List II, with updates published through official NMPA channels.

Database contents:
– Inventory of existing cosmetic ingredients
– Chinese names with INCI or English cross-references
– Ingredient remarks and regulatory notes
– Additions, refinements, and corrections
– Information relevant to new cosmetic ingredient status

Inclusion in the inventory does not mean unrestricted approval for every formulation or use. Ingredient-specific requirements must still be checked against current Chinese cosmetics regulations and safety technical specifications.

Essential for: NMPA filing support, Chinese nomenclature validation, ingredient screening, and new-ingredient status checks.

Japan Standards for Cosmetics and Quasi-Drugs

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)
Japan distinguishes cosmetics from quasi-drugs, with different requirements for each category. MHLW cosmetics standards set prohibitions and restrictions for certain ingredients and positive-list controls for preservatives, UV filter substances, and tar colors. Quasi-drugs are subject to separate approval requirements, including controls for active ingredients.

Regulatory information includes:
– Restricted and prohibited ingredients
– Positive-list ingredient categories
– Maximum use levels where specified
– Japanese regulatory terminology
– Cosmetics versus quasi-drug distinctions

Essential for: Japanese ingredient review, product classification, labeling terminology, and regulatory documentation.

FDA Cosmetics – United States

US Food and Drug Administration
The United States does not operate a general premarket approval system for cosmetic ingredients. With limited exceptions, including color additives, cosmetic products and ingredients do not require FDA approval before marketing. Companies remain responsible for product safety, labeling, and compliance.

Available resources:
– Prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients
– Color additive requirements
– Cosmetics-versus-drug classification guidance
– MoCRA facility registration and product listing information
– Cosmetics Direct submission resources

The former Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program is no longer the current registration route; FDA stopped accepting VCRP submissions in 2023 as MoCRA requirements were implemented.

Essential for: US ingredient screening, safety substantiation, MoCRA compliance, classification, and labeling review.

Industry and Scientific Reference Databases

These resources support nomenclature, research, translator education, and cross-market terminology work, but they do not replace current legislation or official regulatory decisions.

PCPC INCI Database

Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)
The Personal Care Products Council PCPC maintains the INCI naming system through the International Nomenclature Committee and provides INCIpedia public and subscription resources. INCI names standardize ingredient declarations, but assignment of an INCI name does not mean an ingredient is approved or safe for every use.

Database features:
– International INCI nomenclature
– Chemical synonyms and identifiers
– Ingredient functions and technical information
– Trade-name and supplier information in subscription resources
– Regulatory and multilingual reference data

Best use: verifying cosmetic ingredients INCI terminology, harmonizing multilingual ingredient lists, and supporting cosmetics industry localization.

INCIDecoder

Independent Ingredient Reference
INCIDecoder provides plain-language explanations of cosmetic ingredients, functions, and common uses. It is useful for translator education and formulation concepts, but it is not a regulatory authority.

Best use: subject-matter learning before checking official sources.

PubChem

National Library of Medicine / NIH
PubChem provides chemical structures, identifiers, properties, safety-related data, and scientific literature links. It can help reconcile chemical synonyms and CAS identifiers during technical research.

Best use: chemical property research, toxicological terminology checks, technical safety assessment support, and source discovery.

SkinSAFE Database

SkinSAFE, developed with input from Mayo Clinic
SkinSAFE is a product and ingredient reference focused on allergens, sensitivities, and personalized avoidance. It can support contact-allergen research and sensitive-skin positioning, but it is not an official source for regulatory allergen disclosure requirements.

Best use: supplementary allergen research and sensitivity-focused product review. It should not replace clinical testing, formal safety evaluation, or jurisdiction-specific labeling rules.

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