Minimum Information Required When Designing Cosmetic Labels (Canada)

The following outlines the minimum mandatory labelling requirements for cosmetic products sold in Canada, based on Health Canada’s cosmetic labelling guidance.

1. Front (Principal Display) Panel

The front panel must clearly display:

a) Product Identity

  • The common name or function of the product (e.g., Face Cream / Crème de visage).

  • Must be shown in English and French.

b) Net Quantity

  • The amount of product in the package (weight, volume, or number of units).

  • Must be declared in metric units (e.g., g, mL).

  • Must appear in English and French.

2. Back (Information) Panel

The back or information panel must include:

a) Company (Dealer) Information

  • Name of the manufacturer, importer, or distributor (the “dealer”).

  • Principal place of business (mailing address).

  • A website or email address may also be included to allow consumers to contact the company.

b) Directions for Use

  • Required if necessary for safe and proper use of the product.

  • Must be provided in English and French.

c) Warnings and Cautions

  • Any applicable warnings or cautionary statements required for safe use.

  • Must appear in English and French, where applicable.

d) Ingredient List

  • All ingredients must be listed using INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names.

  • INCI names do not need to be translated into French.

Additional Requirements

  • All mandatory information (except INCI ingredient names) must be bilingual (English and French).

  • Information must be clearly legible and durable for the life of the product.

  • If the product has only one label or limited space, all required information must still be included.

For complete regulatory details, refer to Health Canada’s Guide to the Labelling of Cosmetics.