Cosmetic Regulations (C.R.C., c. 869)

20 Subject to these Regulations, a person must not sell a cosmetic unless its inner label contains

• (a) a telephone number, email address, website address, postal address or any other information that enables communication with a contact person to whom consumers may direct questions about the cosmetic; and

• (b) the identity of the cosmetic in terms of its common or generic name or in terms of its function, unless the identity is obvious.

• 21 (1) No manufacturer shall make any claim on a label of or in an advertisement for a cosmetic respecting either of the following, unless the manufacturer has evidence that validates the claim:

  • (a) the ability of the cosmetic or any of its ingredients to influence the chemistry of the skin, hair or teeth; or

  • (b) the formulation, manufacture or performance of the cosmetic that would imply that the user of the cosmetic will not suffer injury to their health.

• (2) The manufacturer shall, on request, provide the Minister with the evidence referred to in subsection (1).

List of Ingredients

21.1 Sections 21.2 to 21.5 do not apply to any product whose ingredient labelling is regulated under the Food and Drug Regulations or the Natural Health Products Regulations.

• 21.2 (1) Subject to subsection (4), a list of ingredients must appear on the outer label of a cosmetic, with each ingredient listed only by its INCI name.

• (2) In the case of makeup and nail polish and enamel sold in a range of colour shades, all colouring agents used in the range may be listed if they are preceded by the symbol “+/–” or “±” or the phrase “may contain/peut contenir”.

• (3) Botanicals must be listed by specifying at least the genus and species portions of the INCI name.

• (4) An ingredient that is included in the schedule may be listed

  • (a) by its European Union (EU) technical name set out in column 1 of the schedule;

  • (b) by its appropriate INCI name set out in column 2 of the schedule and its appropriate French equivalent set out in column 3 of the schedule; or

  • (c) by all three names.

21.3 An ingredient that has no INCI name must be listed by its chemical name.

• 21.4 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance, in their concentration by weight.

• (2) Ingredients that are present at a concentration of 1% or less and all colouring agents, regardless of their concentration, may be listed in random order after the ingredients that are present at a concentration of more than 1%.

• (3) In the case of fragrance and flavour, the words “parfum” and “aroma”, respectively, may be inserted at the end of the list of ingredients to indicate that such ingredients have been added to the cosmetic to produce or to mask a particular odour or flavour.

• 21.5 (1) Despite subsection 21.2(1), in the case of a cosmetic whose immediate container or outside package is too small for the label to comply with paragraph 18(b), the list of ingredients may appear

  • (a) on a tag, tape or card affixed to the container or package; or

  • (b) on a website, provided that the outer label contains a statement specifying that the list of ingredients appears on that website and includes the location of the website.

• (2) Despite subsection 21.2(1), in the case of a cosmetic in an ornamental container that has no outside package, the list of ingredients may appear on a tag, tape or card affixed to the container.

• (3) Despite subsection 21.2(1), in the case of a cosmetic that has no outside package and whose size, shape or texture, or that of its immediate container, makes it impractical for a tag, tape or card to be affixed to the container, the list of ingredients may instead appear in a leaflet that must accompany the cosmetic at the point of sale.

Particular Requirements for Certain Cosmetics

22 A hair dye that contains paraphenylenediamine or other coal tar dye base or coal tar intermediate must

• (a) carry the following warning on both the inner and outer labels:

  “CAUTION: This product contains ingredients that may cause skin irritation on certain individuals and a preliminary test according to accompanying directions should first be made. This product must not be used for dyeing the eyelashes or eyebrows. To do so may cause blindness.

  MISE EN GARDE : Ce produit contient des ingrédients qui peuvent causer de l’irritation cutanée chez certaines personnes; il faut donc d’abord effectuer une épreuve préliminaire selon les directives ci-jointes. Ce produit ne doit pas servir à teindre les sourcils ni les cils; en ce faisant, on pourrait provoquer la cécité.”; and

• (b) be accompanied by instructions to the following effect:

  • (i) the preparation may cause serious inflammation of the skin in some persons, and a preliminary test should always be made to determine whether special sensitivity exists, and

  • (ii) to make the test, a small area of skin behind the ear or on the inner surface of the forearm should be cleansed, using either soap and water or alcohol, and a small quantity of the hair dye as prepared for use should be applied to the area and allowed to dry. After 24 hours, the area should be washed gently with soap and water. If no irritation or inflammation is apparent, it may be assumed that no hypersensitivity to the dye exists. The test should be made before each application. The hair dye should never be used for dyeing eyebrows or eyelashes, as severe inflammation of the eye or even blindness may result.

22.1 The outer label of a cosmetic, where that cosmetic contains mercury or a salt or derivative thereof as a preservative, shall indicate the name of the preservative and its concentration in the cosmetic.

23 A deodorant that is intended for use in the genital area and that is sold in a pressurized container shall carry the following information on both its inner and outer labels:

“Directions: For external use only. Use sparingly and not more than once daily. Spray external skin surface while holding nozzle at least eight inches from the skin”

“Mode d’emploi : Pour usage externe seulement. Employer modérément, pas plus d’une fois par jour. Vaporiser sur la surface externe de la peau en tenant le bec à une distance d’au moins huit pouces”

“Caution: Do not apply internally or to broken, irritated or itching skin. Do not use when wearing a sanitary napkin. Discontinue use immediately if a rash or irritation develops. Consult a physician if the rash or irritation persists or if there is any unusual odour or discharge at any time”

“Mise en garde : Ne pas appliquer sur une surface interne ou sur une surface éraflée, irritée ou en proie à la démangeaison. Ne pas utiliser avec des serviettes hygiéniques. Cesser immédiatement l’emploi en cas d’éruption ou d’irritation. Consulter un médecin si l’éruption ou l’irritation persiste ou en cas d’odeur ou de sécrétion inhabituelle”

• 24 (1) The label of a cosmetic that presents an avoidable hazard must include directions for safe use.

• (2) For the purpose of subsection (1), avoidable hazard means a threat of injury to the health of the user of a cosmetic that can be

  • (a) predicted from the cosmetic’s composition, the toxicology of its ingredients and the site of its application;

  • (b) reasonably anticipated during normal use; and

  • (c) eliminated by specified limitations on the usage of the cosmetic.

Pressurized Containers

• 25 (1) Subject to subsection (3) and section 27, in the case of a cosmetic packaged in a disposable metal container designed to release pressurized contents by use of a manually operated valve that forms an integral part of the container, the principal display panel of the inner and outer labels of the cosmetic shall display, in accordance with sections 15 to 18 of the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, as they read on September 30, 2001, the following information:

  • (a) the hazard symbol set out in column II of item 10 of Schedule II to those Regulations, accompanied by the signal word “CAUTION / ATTENTION”; and

  • (b) the primary hazard statement “CONTAINER MAY EXPLODE IF HEATED. / CE CONTENANT PEUT EXPLOSER S’IL EST CHAUFFÉ.”.

• (2) Subject to subsection (3) and section 27, one panel of the inner and outer labels of a cosmetic referred to in subsection (1) shall display, in the size required by paragraph 19(1)(b) of the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, as they read on September 30, 2001, the following additional hazard statement:

  “Contents under pressure. Do not place in hot water or near radiators, stoves or other sources of heat. Do not puncture or incinerate container or store at temperatures over 50°C.

  Contenu sous pression. Ne pas mettre dans l’eau chaude ni près des radiateurs, poêles ou autres sources de chaleur. Ne pas percer le contenant, ni le jeter au feu, ni le conserver à des températures dépassant 50°C.”

• (3) If the Minister determines, at the request of the manufacturer, that the materials used in the construction of a container described in subsection (1) or the incorporation in such a container of a safety device has eliminated the hazards presented by the container, subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to the cosmetic packaged in that container.

• (4) and (5) [Repealed, SOR/81-615, s. 2]

• 26 (1) Subject to section 27, if a cosmetic is packaged in a container described in subsection 25(1) and has a flame projection of a length set out in column I of any of items 1 to 3 of the table to this subsection or has a flashback as set out in column I of item 4 of that table, as determined by official method DO-30, Determination of Flame Projection, dated October 15, 1981, the principal display panel of the inner label of and outer label for the cosmetic shall display, in accordance with sections 15 to 18 of the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, as they read on September 30, 2001, the following information:

  • (a) the hazard symbol set out in column II;

  • (b) the signal word set out in column III; and

  • (c) the primary hazard statement set out in column IV.

  Item Article	Column I Colonne I	Column II Colonne II	Column III Colonne III	Column IV Colonne IV
  	Flame Projection Length — Flashback Projection de la flamme — Retour de flamme	Hazard Symbol Signal de danger	Signal Word Mot indicateur	Primary Hazard Statement Mention de danger principale
  1	Less than 15 cm moins de 15 cm		Caution Attention	Flammable Inflammable
  2	15 cm or more but less than 45 cm 15 cm et plus mais moins de 45 cm		Warning Avertissement	Flammable Inflammable
  3	45 cm or more 45 cm et plus		Danger Danger	Extremely Flammable Extrêmement inflammable
  4	Flashback Retour de flamme		Danger Danger	Extremely Flammable Extrêmement inflammable

• (2) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1), one panel of the inner and outer labels of a cosmetic referred to in that subsection shall display, in the size required by paragraph 19(1)(b) of the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations, as they read on September 30, 2001, the following additional hazard statements:

  “Do not use in presence of open flame or spark.

  Ne pas utiliser en présence d’une flamme nue ou d’étincelles.”

• 27 (1) When the labelled net quantity of a cosmetic described in subsection 25(1) or 26(1) is less than 30 mL or 30 g, the hazard symbol must be of such a size that it is capable of being circumscribed by a circle with a diameter of at least 6 mm.

• (2) When the labelled net quantity of a cosmetic described in subsection 25(1) or 26(1) is not greater than 60 mL or 60 g, the inner label may show only the information described in paragraph 25(1)(a) or paragraphs 26(1)(a) and (b), as the case may be.

• (3) When the labelled net quantity of a cosmetic described in subsection 25(1) or 26(1) is greater than 60 mL or 60 g but not greater than 120 mL or 120 g, the inner label may show only the information described in subsection 25(1) or 26(1), as the case may be.

• (4) When a cosmetic described in subsection (2) or (3) is sold in an outside package, the outer label may show only the information described in subsection 25(2) and, if applicable, subsection 26(2).