Canada’s health agency, Santé Canada, is changing its hot list of critical ingredients whose use is restricted or prohibited in cosmetics. The last update was in 2011.
The proposed changes to the hot list are published on the Health Canada website, www.hc-sc.gc.ca, and comments can be made until 8 December 2013.
Among the changes, there are two additions to the list. The organisation is looking to add Solvent Red 23 (CI 26100 / CAS No. 85-86-9), a purplish red synthetic azo dye to the list. It is now proposed to prohibit this substance in cosmetics applied to or around the mucous membranes. The second ingredient is Adipate, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHA (CAS No. 103-23-1), which is a plasticiser that is used as an ingredient in PVC based plastic wrap. The company has now proposed a concentration limit of 6% in non-rinse body moisturisers.
A limit of 30% is also planned for the concentration of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) in cosmetic products used by professionals. The limit is 10% for off the shelf cosmetics.
The agency has also proposed to add a threshold of 0.01% to the hot list for cosmetic topical aerosols over concerns that they may produce and release formaldehyde vapours when they are subjected to heat.
