Health Canada published an updated cosmetic ingredient hotlist in December 2019.

SAFEGUARDS | Cosmetics, Personal Care and HouseholdNO. 008/20

 SG 00820 Mineral CosmeticB

Health Canada revised the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist: Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in December 2019. This update adopted most of the proposed changes made in May 2019, except the warning sentence for products containing Eucalyptus oil. The table below summarizes the changes in this update.

Items Amended Summary of Changes
Sodium Bromate Banned. 
Sodium bromate is toxicologically equivalent to potassium bromate, which has been prohibited since March 2011 due to its carcinogenic potential. The two entries were combined as ‘Bromates’. 
Dihydrocoumarin

Changed from a banned substance to a restricted substance. 

The maximum permissible limit is 

  1. 0.035% in leave-on products
  2. 3.5% in rinse-off products
Disulfiram, Thiuram, Thiuram disulfides and Thiuram monosulfides
 Combined into one entry as ‘Thiurams’ and changed from a banned substance to a restricted substance. 

The maximum permissible limit is 14% in Latex products. 
Thioglycolic acid and its salts

Amended with new conditions when it is used in hair dye products and in areas around eyes.

The maximum permissible limit is 

  1. 11%, as thioglyclic acid, with a pH less than or equal to 9.5, in eyelash curling products
  2. 8%, as thioglyclic acid, with a pH less than or equal to 9.5, in hair dyes, waving or straightening products
  3. 11%, as thioglyclic acid, with a pH less than or equal to 9.5, in hair dyes, waving or straightening products for professional use
  4. 5%, as thioglyclic acid, with a pH less than or equal to 12.7, in depilatory products
    Relevant warning sentences are required for each product category. 

Relevant warning sentences are required for each product category. 

References 

  1. Consultation on proposed updates to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist: Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients
  2. December 2019 Changes to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
  3. Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist 2019

It is crucial for all cosmetic, personal care and household products to be safe effective and stable. SGS provides testing, inspection, auditing and consulting services to manufacturers, distributors and importers to ensure a high level of product quality in every area. Our state of the art laboratories offer custom-made solutions for chemical, biophysical, microbiological, stability and biological aspects. We also have extensive capabilities in performance testing, claim support studies and consumer panels. Our testing is conducted according to customer specific or recognized standard methods, some of which were developed by SGS. Our cosmetic safety assessors and other technical experts can support customers by making sure new products comply with regulatory requirements. 

Next Step

The industry shall take note of this change of restriction and/or prohibition and react as soon as possible to have the product in compliance with the new requirement. 

For enquiries, please contact:

Queenie Ho-yan TSE 
Assistant Technical Service Manager
T: +852 2765 3672

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