Health Canada recently made several changes to its Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, which lists substances that are restricted or prohibited from use in cosmetics in the country.
Prostaglandins, their salts, derivatives and analogues were added as a prohibited ingredient in cosmetic products due to their presence on the Prescription Drug List and their sole therapeutic functions. Certain types of prostaglandins and analogues have been used in formulas for the treatment of hair loss or for eyelash enhancement.
Canadian authorities also amended several entries in the list of regulated substances:
– Methylisothiazolinone / Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MI/MCI), in combination. This entry was amended in order to add a new condition for MI/MCI when used in combination, as a prohibited substance in leave-on cosmetic products. The preservative can still be used in rinse-off products, to a maximum concentration of 0.0015% or 15 ppm.
– Cyanoacrylate-based adhesives. This entry was amended in order to reflect the policy change in requirements for cyanoacrylate-based eyelash adhesives. Notifiers of cyanoacrylate-based adhesives for the application of false eyelashes will no longer be required to submit descriptions of their training methods and training materials to Health Canada upon notification. However, these materials should be kept on hand.
– Peroxide and peroxide-generating compounds. In order to better reflect current use patterns for tooth whitening products, this entry was amended by updating the cautionary statements.
– p-Phenylenediamine and its salts. This entry was amended in two ways:
1. Addition of a maximum concentration limit of 3% after dilution with an oxidizer, and
2. Addition of p-Phenylenediamine salts to the list of synonyms and related compounds.
