Cosmetics and Personal Care

The use of cosmetics and personal care products is a daily ritual common among the Canadian public. Cosmetics include, but are not limited to cleansing products, make-up, perfumes, deodorants, and soap.

Some products that appear to be a cosmetic may actually be classified differently and managed by different programs within Health Canada:

• Products that have a therapeutic claim or that contain certain ingredients not permitted in cosmetics are considered to be drugs, for example sunscreens.
• Products containing natural therapeutic ingredients are considered natural health products (NHPs), for example many toothpastes.
• Items where ingestion is intentional and that do not have a therapeutic effect or claim are food products.
• Insect repellent lotions and sprays are pesticides.
• Products (such as creams, lotions, or shampoos) providing a therapeutic benefit to animals are veterinary drugs.

Health Canada's Role

The goal of Health Canada's Cosmetics Program is to protect the health of the Canadian public by minimizing the risk associated with the use of cosmetics sold in Canada. Various Acts and Regulations provide the basis from which this is done. Tools such as the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, which outlines prohibited or restricted ingredients in cosmetics, are used to minimize this risk.

Where a cosmetic product may pose a health concern,

• more information may be requested from the company;
• testing on the product may be undertaken; or
• a risk assessment may be generated.

Options for corrective measures include

• re-formulation or re-labelling of the product;
• removal from sale/voluntary recall;
• import refusal;
• seizure and disposal; or
• issuance of a public advisory.

The Cosmetic Regulations

All cosmetics sold to consumers in Canada must meet the requirements of the  Food and Drugs Act, the current Cosmetic Regulations, and all other applicable legislation to ensure that they are safe to use and do not pose any health risk.

The  Cosmetic Regulations of the Food and Drugs Act reguire that cosmetics sold in Canada must be manufactured, prepared, preserved, packed and stored under sanitary conditions. The manufacturer must notify Health Canada that it is selling the product and provide a list of the product's ingredients.

What information is available?

Consult the following resources for more information about cosmetics:

• Adverse Reaction Reporting
• Consumer Information - Health Concerns About Lead in Traditional Kohl
• Cosmetics: Frequently Asked Questions
• Internet Myths and Rumours About Cosmetics
• It's Your Health: Contact Lenses
• It's Your Health: Cosmetic Product Ingredient Labelling
• It's Your Health: Cosmetics and Your Health
• It's Your Health: The Safe Use of Home Tooth Whitening Kits
• New Ingredient Labelling Requirements - Frequently Asked Questions
• PPD In "Black Henna" Temporary Tattoos Is Not Safe
• Public Education Bulletin: Cosmetics