Use this pre-print checklist to connect your product classification, formula, required label copy and physical packaging proof before ordering blank labels.
Short answer
Canadian cosmetic labels generally include an INCI ingredient list, product identity in English and French, metric net quantity, consumer contact information, dealer identity and principal place of business, plus required warnings, cautions, and safe-use directions. Manufacturers and importers must also complete the applicable Health Canada cosmetic notification process.
This guide supports label planning. It is not legal certification or Health Canada approval. The manufacturer or importer remains responsible for the product and its labelling.
| Element | Primary control | Common risk |
|---|---|---|
| Product identity | Approved English and French common identity | Marketing name does not describe the product |
| Ingredients | Complete INCI list from released formula | Old formula or wrong ingredient order |
| Net quantity | Metric declaration at final size | Incorrect unit or placement |
| Warnings and directions | Required bilingual safety information | Copy omitted or reduced below legibility |
| Consumer contact | Current label contact route | Dead website or missing contact |
| Dealer information | Correct business identity and principal place | Importer or dealer data mismatch |
| Claims | Classification and evidence review | Therapeutic claim changes product category |
| Notification | Current Cosmetic Notification Form record | Formula change not reflected |
Classify the product before writing the label
A lotion, cleanser, deodorant, therapeutic product, natural health product, drug, or consumer chemical may follow different rules. Review ingredients, intended use, claims, presentation, and route of application before treating the item as a cosmetic.
Marketing language can affect classification. A claim that a product treats or prevents a condition may move it outside an ordinary cosmetic pathway. Resolve classification before the brand team locks the front panel.
- Intended use and area of application
- Leave-on or rinse-off use
- Claims and consumer expectations
- Ingredient restrictions
- Package and dispensing method
Connect INCI ingredients to the formula
Build the label ingredient list from the approved finished formula using current INCI nomenclature and ordering rules. Check every ingredient against the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist and any applicable concentration, warning, or disclosure conditions.
Fragrance allergen dates to check
- April 12, 2026: new and existing cosmetics must disclose the 24 List 1 fragrance allergens when the applicable concentration threshold is exceeded.
- August 1, 2026: new cosmetics must also meet the expanded List 2 disclosure requirement.
- August 1, 2028: the expanded List 2 requirement applies to existing cosmetics.
The thresholds are greater than 0.01% in rinse-off products and greater than 0.001% in leave-on products. Check the applicable list, grouped-allergen rules and whether the product is new or existing against Health Canada's current cosmetic labelling guide. Do not infer the transition category from the date a label is reprinted.
A supplier, concentration, fragrance, colour, or formulation change can affect ingredients, warnings, notification, and claims. Route every change through a label impact review.
Approve bilingual identity and safety copy
The product identity and required warnings or cautions need correct English and French treatment. Safe-use directions also require a jurisdiction-aware review. Use qualified translation and keep the approved source and translation together.
Measure net quantity, identity, warnings, ingredients, and contact information at final print size. Small cylindrical containers may need a wrap, fold, peel-back, tag, or package redesign, but the chosen format must still satisfy the applicable requirements.
- Preserve accents and punctuation
- Check principal display placement
- Test copy on the smallest package
- Keep required text separate from decorative copy
Review claims, notification and production
Review visual and written claims for truth, support, and classification risk. Natural, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, environmental, and performance claims can still require evidence and must not mislead.
Complete the applicable Cosmetic Notification Form process and maintain the record when the product name, contacts, or formula changes. Print and apply a physical proof, then inspect legibility, scuff resistance, oil and water exposure, barcode performance, and container compatibility.
- Claim substantiation file
- Approved notification record
- Artwork and translation signoff
- Physical package test
- Released template and print record
Authoritative sources
Product specifications and regulatory guidance can change. Confirm your final production setup against the current primary sources below.
Frequently asked questions
Must cosmetic ingredients use INCI names in Canada?
Health Canada requires an ingredient list using the International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients system, subject to the detailed rules and current guidance.
Do cosmetic labels need English and French?
The product identity and required warnings or cautions are among the information that generally requires English and French treatment. Review all applicable federal and provincial requirements.
Is a Cosmetic Notification Form the same as product approval?
No. Notification is mandatory for applicable cosmetics, but it does not mean Health Canada approved the product.
When should a cosmetic label be reviewed again?
Review it after changes to formula, ingredients, supplier, product name, claims, package, contact information, market, or regulation.
Choose a blank label for your actual container
Once your artwork has been reviewed, send the printer model, label dimensions, container material and expected exposure to oils, water and handling. BOPP face stock alone does not establish waterproof printing or adhesive performance. Test the complete printed label on the filled container before a production order.
Request a suitable blank-label sample or fit check. For the next step, read how to design and proof product labels and waterproof versus water-resistant labels.
