Health Canada Info

Cosmetics are regulate under the Food And Drugs Act and Cosmetic Regulations to make sure they are safe to use and to reduce health risks to Canadians.

Cosmetics sold in Canada must be manufactured, prepared, preserved, packed and stored under sanitary conditions.

Manufacturers cannot sell cosmetics that contain ingredients that may cause injury when the product is used normally, according to the directions on the label.

Manufacturers must provide a list of the ingredients in a cosmetic product to Health Canada. This allows them to identify and prohibit a product if an ingredient presents a hazard to the health and safety of Canadians.

All cosmetics must have their ingredients listed on the label. This lets consumers identify and avoid any cosmetics that contain ingredients that are of concern to them.

If a health and safety problem happens after a cosmetic product is on the market, Health Canada can investigate and take appropriate enforcement actions.

The three most significant features of the Canadian cosmetic regulatory system are mandatory notification of all cosmetic products, safety of ingredients and products, and product labelling.

Cosmetics must be notified by the person or firm who is responsible for the product in Canada, or a firm or person authorized on their behalf.  The notifying company is the main contact point for correspondence from Health Canada and consumers, as well as for questions, concerns or compliance action regarding the product.

 

Labelling is regulated by the Food and Drugs Act, the Cosmetic Regulations and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.

Cosmetic labels must show:

Specific labelling requirements for the safe use of special products, like hair dyes and tooth whiteners. The law does not allow false and misleading statements or deceptive packaging.

The labelling helps Canadians make more informed decisions about the cosmetics they use, since they are able to easily identify ingredients they may be sensitive to.

Ingredient labelling using the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) system also lets doctors refer to one common name for the purpose of treatment and incidence reporting.

Because many other countries also use the INCI system, Canadians travelling abroad will be able to recognize and avoid ingredients, as needed, without needing to know additional terminology.

Canada's cosmetic labelling has now been brought into line with international standards. This will contribute to health protection, while helping to lessen trade barriers and increase trade opportunities for Canadian businesses.

 

Ingredients that are allowed in cosmetics Ingredients that do not present an unreasonable health and safety risk to Canadians, when used according to directions, are allowed in cosmetic products. Health Canada maintains a

Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist which lists ingredients that are either prohibited or restricted in cosmetic products.

To help cosmetic manufacturers satisfy the requirements for sale of a cosmetic, Health Canada developed the Hotlist - an administrative list of substances that are restricted and prohibited in cosmetics. A list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients, known as the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, can be found on the Health Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/hotlist.

Please follow the instructions below to ensure appropriate completion of all notification forms and to avoid any unnecessary delays in processing.

Notification is a mandatory requirement for sale of cosmetics in Canada. Under the Cosmetic Regulations,

all cosmetics must be notified to the Cosmetics Program of Health Canada within the first 10 days a cosmetic is available for sale. Failure to notify may result in a product being denied entry into Canada or removed from sale.

Companies must inform the Cosmetics Program whenever a change affecting the information on a CNF is made. Some examples of this include (but are not limited to):

All cosmetic products sold in Canada are subject to notification to Health Canada under the Cosmetic Regulations. The definition of "cosmetic" can be found in section 2 of the Food and Drugs Act.

In order to be classified as a cosmetic, the product must meet the following criteria:

Products that appear to be cosmetics, but that fall outside of the above criteria may be subject to other regulations.

Complete the form in triplicate. Provide the Cosmetics Program with two copies, stapled together, at the address below, and retain one copy as the manufacturer.

 

Print out the form, fill it out and mail to the address below.

 

Cosmetics Program, Health Canada

MacDonald Building

123 Slater Street, 4th Floor A.L. 3504D

Ottawa, Ontario,K1A 0K9

Health Canada determined that products used for animal grooming will no longer be considered cosmetics under the Food and Drugs Act and Cosmetic Regulations. Effective June 20, 2011 these types of products will be subject to the Canada Consumer Products Safety Act (CCPSA ) and the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, 2001 ( CCCR, 2001 ) depending on the properties and attributes of the product.  In some cases, these products may be exempt from the CCCR, 2001 requirements and will be subject to other Canadian legislation.

If your company has previously notified animal grooming products as cosmetics, please be advised these products have been deactivated from Health Canada's Cosmetics Notification System since they are no longer required to comply with the Cosmetic Regulations.

Products for use on animals which make a therapeutic claim may be classified as veterinary drugs and subject to the Food and Drug Regulations. Please contact the Veterinary Drugs Directorate at 613-954-5687 for more information.

Products which make pest control claims ( e.g. flea and tick removal ) may be classified as pest control products and subject to the Pest Control Products Regulations or the Food and Drugs Act depending on the application. Please contact the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's Information Services Section at toll free 1-800-267-6315

Products for use on both humans and animals in cleansing, improving or altering the complexion, skin, hair or teeth, including deodorants and perfumes.  These will continue to be classified as cosmetics and continue to be regulated under the Cosmetic Regulations.  Please contact the nearest Regional Product Safety Office for more information.  Contact information can be found online at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/contact/cps-spc/hecs-dgsesc/pso-bsp-eng.php

A copy of the CCCR, 2001 regulations can be found at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cr/SOR-2001-269

For information on how to order a CCCR, 2001 Industry Guide, which will provide information to help you comply with these regulations, please visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/indust/hpa-pcc/guide-evaluation-eng.php

If you have any questions regarding consumer chemical products, or questions about the CCCR 2001, please contact your nearest Regional Product Safety Office : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/contact/cps-spc/hecs-dgsesc/pso-bsp-eng.php