Back to all services
Cosmetic products sold in Canada have to comply with labelling requirements of the following regulations:
Canadian legislation has rules regarding where certain information has to appear on the labelling. It is, therefore, important to be familiar with the term of a principal display panel (PDP). For most containers this is the part of the label that is applied to the whole or only part of the surface of the container, that is displayed or visible under normal or customary conditions of sale or use.
Special attention must be paid to the language used on the labels as some information listed on the label has to appear both in English and French.
Information that needs to appear on the PDP:
Product identity (unless it is obvious): Common or generic name of cosmetics, or a statement of a cosmetic’s function has to appear both in English and French.
Net quantity (in metric units). It is important to note that there needs to be a space between the number and the metric symbol or word. If written in words, it has to appear both in English and French.
Name and address of the manufacturer or Canadian dealer: Can appear anywhere on the outside surface of the package, except on the bottom. May appear in English, French or both.
Avoidable hazards and cautions: If any avoidable hazards are associated with the use of a product, the label has to include warnings on how to use the product to eliminate the risk (instructions for use, cautions, symbols etc.). Warnings have to appear both in English and French.
Ingredient list: Ingredients with the concentration above 1 % have to be listed in a descending order of predominance followed by the ingredients with a concentration below 1%, which can be listed in any order.
Fragrances or flavours have to be listed using the words “perfume” or “aroma”. Colouring agents should be listed as CI numbers of colour names. For colour cosmetics the same list of ingredients can be used for all of the various shades. The list of colouring agents must be preceded by the symbol “+/-“ or the phrase “may contain/peut contenir”. Ingredients that are listed in the schedule of the Cosmetic Regulations can either be listed by their EU trivial names or by the appropriate English and French equivalents, or all 3 terms may be used together, such as for example water/aqua/eau.
The information listed above has to appear also on the inner label, the only exceptions are net quantity and ingredient list.
If product will be sold in Quebec province, then the entire label would need to be translated to French.
Need help with the cosmetics regulations and testing?
Contact Us
