Guidelines for Reading Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist

For a cosmetic product to be legally sold in Canada, it must comply with the regulations outlined in the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) and the Cosmetic Regulations (CR). Section 16 of the FDA specifically mandates that cosmetics manufactured, imported, or sold in Canada must be deemed safe for use.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (Hotlist) serves as an administrative tool utilized by Health Canada to communicate to manufacturers and other stakeholders about substances that may be prohibited or subject to restrictions for use in cosmetics. This Guidelines aims to provide clear instructions on how to interpret and comprehend the information presented in the Hotlist.

Content

1. About the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist

2. How to read the Hotlist

3. Responsibilities of manufacturers and importers

4. Updating the Hotlist

5. Hotlist compliance and enforcement