Introduction

Canada maintains a robust regulatory framework to ensure that cosmetic products on the market are safe, accurately labeled, and correctly classified.

Navigating these requirements can be complex for manufacturers and importers, especially when dealing with product safety, bilingual labeling, and notification obligations.

This guide is designed to help companies understand Canada’s cosmetics regulations, clarify key compliance responsibilities, and provide practical insights to support lawful market access and ongoing regulatory compliance.

Cosmetics Regulations in Canada: Regulatory Authority and Applicable Legislation

Health Canada serves as the primary federal authority responsible for the oversight of cosmetics in Canada, ensuring that products meet safety, labeling, and notification requirements. Cosmetics are regulated under a comprehensive legislative framework that includes:

• The Food and Drugs Act,

• The Cosmetic Regulations, and

• The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act.

Together, these laws establish the core compliance obligations for manufacturers, importers, and distributors, covering aspects such as ingredient safety, bilingual labeling, product notification, and classification.

Definition of Cosmetics in Canada

In Canada, a "cosmetic" is defined as any substance used to clean, improve or change the complexion, skin, hair, nails or teeth. Cosmetics include beauty preparations (make-up, perfume, skin cream, nail polish) and grooming aids (soap, shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant).

Some products that seem to be cosmetics may be classified differently and managed by different programs at Health Canada:

• Drugs: Products that claim a therapeutic effect (e.g., preventing or treating a disease) or contain restricted active ingredients are classified as drugs. An example includes topical antibiotic creams.

• Natural Health Products (NHPs): Products containing natural active ingredients that claim a therapeutic effect—such as herbal remedies to speed scar healing—are regulated as NHPs under the Natural Health Products Regulations.

Compliance Requirements for Cosmetics in Canada

Responsibilities of Manufacturers or Importers

Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF)

In Canada, all manufacturers and importers are legally required to notify Health Canada within 10 days of the first sale of a cosmetic product. Failure to comply may result in the product being denied entry at the border or ordered for removal from the market.

The CNF requires information including:

• Product Details: Name, function, and category.

• Contact Information: Names and addresses of the manufacturer, importer(s), and formulator(s).

• Ingredient list: A complete list of ingredients with their respective concentration

A CNF must be updated and resubmitted whenever significant changes occur, such as a reformulation, product name changes, company mergers, or the discontinuation of sales.

Bilingual Labeling Requirements

Canada has two official languages: English and French. Accordingly, for cosmetics sold in Canada, most mandatory labeling information must appear in both languages, like product identity, net quantity, country of origin, directions for use, and warning statements. Ingredient lists may appear in INCI names (with a small number of ingredients requiring bilingual display).

Note on Quebec: Under the Charter of the French Language (and recent amendments such as Bill 96), the province of Quebec enforces even stricter requirements. All consumer information must be available in French, and French text must be at least as prominent as any other language.

Product Safety Evidence

Manufacturers and importers are responsible for ensuring their products are safe. They must be prepared to provide safety evidence demonstrating the product's safety to the Minister of Health upon request.

Our Services

• Product Classification: Determining if a product is a Cosmetic, Drug, or Natural Health Product (NHP)

• CNF Submission

• Cosmetic Formulation and Labeling Review

• Bilingual Translation Services

• Safety Data Compilation