Cosmetics

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To sell a cosmetic in Canada you must submit a cosmetic notification to Health Canada within 10 days of putting your product on the shelves. Your product label must also be compliant with Health Canada's rules and regulations set out in the Food and Drugs Act and the Cosmetic Regulations which outline the mandatory information to include on the product label, and which information must be in both English and French.

This is a list that consists of ingredients which Health Canada has either banned or limited the use of in cosmetics.

Cosmetics do NOT make any claims to modify bodily functions or prevent or treat disease. For example, a topical antibiotic cream would be considered a drug, not a cosmetic, whereas a cream that claims to improve the texture of skin would be considered a cosmetic. However, it can be difficult to distinguish between some drugs and Natural Health Products as both make functional health claims. For example, a topical product that helps to treat acne could be a Natural Health Product or a Drug depending on the Active Ingredients used.