Canada | Health Canada Revised the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist

In February 2025, Health Canada revised the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, which outlines prohibited and restricted ingredients in cosmetics.

Changes and Revisions

Items Added

(1) Retinal

This ingredient was added to the list of substances described as restricted due to therapeutic properties and risk of skin irritation. The maximum concentrations for this ingredient were calculated based on the recommended tolerable upper intake levels for vitamin A.

(2) Thioglycolic acid esters

This ingredient was added to the list of substances described as prohibited due to risk of skin sensitization.

Items Amended

(1) Mixed cresols and derivatives

The entry for mixed cresols and derivatives was amended to create separate entries for different cresols, as the substances have different risk profiles.

(2) Peroxide and peroxide-generating compounds

This entry was amended to:

• Introduce a maximum permitted concentration for hair products due to risk of skin irritation at high concentrations.
• Introduce conditions for eyelash and eyebrow products due to risk of eye irritation at low concentrations.
• Indicate that these ingredients are not permitted for use in products intended for application to the genital area due to risk of irritation.
• Conditions of use for oral products were not changed from the previous version.

(3) Benzoyl peroxide

This entry was amended to indicate that the ingredient may only be used in nail products for professional use. Warnings and cautionary statements to avoid skin contact have been included due to the strong potential to cause irritation and sensitization.

(4) Retinol and its esters

This entry was amended to reduce the maximum concentration permitted for certain products such as body lotions.

Interpretation of Retinal

[Regulatory Requirements in China] The Chinese Cosmetic Ingredient Regulatory Database (ChinaCosIng), independently developed by CIRS Group, indicates that Retinal (CAS No. 116-31-4/514-85-2), used as skin conditioning in cosmetics. Retinal has been included in the Inventory of Existing Cosmetic Ingredients in China (IECIC 2021). The maximum historical usage in leave-on products is 2%.

Furthermore, Retinal has been included in the latest version of Information on Ingredients Used in Marketed Products in China, published by the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) on February 9, 2025. The specific application areas, usage methods, and usage amounts are detailed in the table below.

If you need any assistance or have any questions, please get in touch with us via service@cirs-group.com.

Further Information

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredient-hotlist-prohibited-restricted-ingredients/changes.html#feb2025

Our Services

• Canada Cosmetics Formula and Label Compliance Review
• Canada Cosmetics CNF Registration
• Canada DIN Registration