What Safety Criteria and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) Must a Cosmetic Meet?
The Food and Drugs Act and the Cosmetic Regulations set safety requirements. All cosmetics sold in Canada must be: • free from filth, foreign matter and substances that may injure the health of the user when the cosmetic is used according to label directions or customary ways of use; • manufactured, prepared, preserved packed and stored under sanitary conditions; and • on notification with the government as to the composition. (A manufacturer must disclose the composition of any cosmetic so that the acceptability of its ingredients can be monitored. If a safety concern arises, the cosmetic is prohibited from the market. Those “trade secrets” are considered confidential.) There are currently no regulations specifying GMPs for cosmetics. However, products are expected to be manufactured with the general safety conditions specifed in Section 16 and 18 of the Cosmetics Regulations. For information on specific GMP guidelines, please read the United States Food and Drug Administration’s docu
