Label laws

They've been in the works for two decades: regulations requiring labels to list the ingredients in cosmetics and personal-care products. They're just like the labels you've seen for years on food packages.

In July 1993, Health Canada put something on paper — its Draft Proposal for Cosmetic Ingredient Labelling. Three months later, stakeholders were invited to a meeting in Ottawa to go over the document.

The proposals required some fine-tuning and by May 1998, a letter was on its way to the companies that make cosmetics and personal-care products, and to the consumers and other interested parties whose views were needed to further hone the proposed regulations.

Almost a year and a half later, Health Canada was ready — with a consultation document that outlined possible changes to the cosmetic regulations.

And then the pace really picked up. Health Canada polished off several outstanding issues as it continued to engage stakeholders through the process. In November 2002, more than 8,000 stakeholders — including medical professionals, industry, consumers, hospitals and pharmacies — received the final consultation document. Its title: Ingredient Listing — Proposed Amendment to the Cosmetic Regulations.

The deal was done. And on Nov. 16, 2004, regulations requiring mandatory labelling of cosmetics and personal-care products were published in the Canada Gazette. That started the clock ticking on a two-year deadline for a switchover from voluntary labels — not governed by any regulations — to mandatory labels that had to follow specific international conventions.

The federal government estimated that the changeover would cost large multinational corporations about $350,000. The two-year phase-in period gave them time to sell off stock that did not conform to the labels. Stores will be allowed another year — until Nov. 16, 2007 — to sell off their inventories of old, unlabelled products.

With the publishing of regulations requiring labels on cosmetics and personal care products, Canada joined the United States and the European Union — which had already required such labels for years.

The EU had further toughened its cosmetic label regulations in 2004, requiring companies to list any ingredient that was a known or suspected carcinogen. Canada's labels don't have to do that.

The Canadian Cancer Society calls Ottawa's label law a good first step. But it would like to see the government go further by:

• Requiring that products that contain any known cancer-causing substances be clearly labelled as such.
• As well as the hotlist of restricted ingredients, a list of ingredients that are used in Canada with their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names should be made available to the public.
• Manufacturers and distributors of cosmetics in Canada should be required to maintain accurate health and safety information on ingredients in their products, as is done in the European Union.

The personal-care-products industry is a $5.3-billion-a-year business in Canada. It's estimated that Canadians use an average of nine such products a day. Most will be covered by the regulations. Many won't be — like some toothpaste and sunscreen. Products that claim some medicinal value fall under different regulations and are exempt from the labelling regulations.

Mae Burrows, executive director of the Labour Environmental Alliance Society, has been fighting for warning labels about carcinogens on products. Health Canada is considering updating its labelling rules.

Until that happens, Burrows wants companies to at least inform consumers when their products contain a possible human carcinogen, something that isn't now required. But she'd like them to go further.

"What we're saying to industry is that we know you can reformulate your products without these carcinogens in it. Just do it. Get ahead of the wave. You can make changes and you can still make a buck."

Health Canada says it receives about 50 reports of adverse reactions to cosmetics a year. Many more cases likely go unreported.

The agency offers these tips for minimizing your risk:

• Always read package directions and warning labels.
• Before using a new cosmetic product, try a patch test on a small area of skin. Wait 24 hours. If there is no reaction, it should be safe to use. With hair dye, it is important to do the test each time you use it, even if you have not had a problem before.
• Do not share cosmetics, especially makeup. This could expose you to someone else's bacteria.
• Keep cosmetic products and toiletries out of the reach of children. If a child swallows any of these products, contact a Poison Control Centre near you. These centres are listed on the first page of your telephone book.
• If you have an adverse reaction to a cosmetic, stop using the product immediately. Call your doctor if the reaction is severe or prolonged, and report the reaction to your local federal product safety office.

Source: Health Canada