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The regulations published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on April 24, 2024, aim to enhance the transparency of cosmetic ingredients in Canada by requiring the disclosure of certain fragrance allergens and other ingredients in cosmetic products sold in the country. This move is a response to the growing concerns about the potential risks associated with the use of certain ingredients in cosmetics.
In July 2021, Health Canada conducted a pre-consultation to gather feedback from stakeholders on proposed amendments to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist Regulations. The consultation received 65 submissions, with many respondents supporting the requirement for disclosure of certain fragrance allergens. The proposed regulations were then published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on February 11, 2023, for a 70-day public comment period.
During this period, various mechanisms were used to inform stakeholders and invite comments. Health Canada notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the proposed regulations and held a virtual session with stakeholders to discuss the proposed changes. Additionally, the agency made presentations at industry meetings to ensure that all relevant stakeholders were aware of the proposed regulations and had an opportunity to provide input.
The proposed regulations were designed to address concerns about the potential risks associated with the use of certain ingredients in cosmetics. Specifically, the regulations aim to require the disclosure of fragrance allergens.
The regulations published on April 24, 2024, amend the Cosmetic Regulations to implement these changes. The regulations require cosmetic manufacturers to disclose the presence of certain fragrance allergens in their product's ingredient list and prominently displayed on the product label. This information will be available to consumers, allowing them to make more informed choices about the products they use.
The timelines for these regulations include:
- New Products: All new products will have to comply with the requirement to disclose the expanded list of fragrance allergens on cosmetic labels as of August 01, 2026.
- Existing Products (products on the market before August 01, 2026): Requirements for existing products will be introduced in two (02) stages over approximately four (04) years:
- Cosmetic labels will be required to disclose the presence of any of the 24 fragrance allergens from the EC two years following the date of registration of the amended Regulations.
- Disclosure of the presence of any of the fragrance allergens from the EC expanded list on cosmetic labels will be required as of August 01, 2028.
Overall, the regulations published on April 24, 2024, aim to enhance the transparency of cosmetic ingredients in Canada and to protect the health and safety of consumers. By requiring the disclosure of certain fragrance allergens, the regulations will help to ensure that consumers have access to accurate and reliable information about the products they use, and that manufacturers are held accountable for the ingredients they use in their products. To comply with the updated regulations, Consult Freyr!
