Cosmetics makers to list ingredients on packaging

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http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2006/11/16/cosmetics-package.html

Cosmetics makers to list ingredients on packaging

Last Updated: Thursday, November 16, 2006 | 10:28 AM ET

CBC News

Consumers will be able to select their lipsticks and shampoos more

carefully as a result of new Health Canada regulations requiring

manufacturers to list ingredients on packaging.

The regulations, effective Thursday, were designed to help shoppers

make informed choices about products such as makeup, perfume, skin

cream, nail polish, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and shaving cream.

New Health Canada regulations require manufacturers to declare

ingredients of cosmetic products on their packaging.

(CBC) Madeleine Bird of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Canada, a

coalition of health, consumer and environmental groups, said she

suspects many consumers will be surprised to find out what chemicals

are in cosmetic products.

" There are many ingredients in cosmetics that are actually quite

harmful to our health over long-term use, " she said. " We're looking

at health risks like carcinogens, mutagens and reproductive toxins.

" We use so many cosmetics in so many different ways on our bodies

every single day for many, many years, so that's where the concern

comes in, " Bird said. " I would say we would avoid using in general …

perfumes, nail polishes and dark hair dyes – those are the products

of most concern. "

Health Canada estimates that roughly 10,000 cosmetic products are in

the marketplace, with Canadians making about $5.3 billion a year in

purchases.

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The United States, the European Union and Japan have similar

legislation requiring manufacturers to declare product ingredients.

The Canadian government estimates the new ingredient rules will cost

multinational corporations about $350,000.

Stores will have a one-year deadline to sell off old stock, but

manufacturers must provide lists of ingredients to customers upon

request.

Bird suspects the new regulations may result in some manufacturers

modifying their products, removing potentially damaging ingredients.

" I've spoken to some manufacturers that have said they shut down for

two years to reformulate, so it is possible, " she said. " We see a lot

of changes happening in the European Union where companies are

required to remove toxic chemicals from their cosmetics and replace

them with safer substances. "

Most cosmetics don't pose serious health dangers, but some

ingredients can cause adverse effects such as severe allergic

reactions and mild irritations.

Between two and five per cent of adults suffer mild reactions to

chemicals, while an even smaller percentage experience acute

reactions such as swelling, hair loss and breathing problems.

Health Canada receives more than 50 adverse reaction reports a year,

and suspects more cases go unreported.

The Canadian Cancer Society supports the labelling change, but urges

the federal government to introduce even stricter regulations,

including adding a warning label on cosmetics containing substances

that may cause cancer.

Related

Internal Links

Label laws: What's in cosmetics and personal-care products?

CBC Marketplace: Cosmetics and the cancer connection

Video

CBC's Hiscox interviews Madeleine Bird of the Campaign for

Safe Cosmetics Canada (Runs: 4:31)

play: real »

play: quicktime »

play: real »

External Links

Health Canada: Labelling of cosmetics

The Canadian Cancer Society: Mandatory labelling

CancerSmart Consumer Guide

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More Consumer Headlines »

Cosmetics makers to list ingredients on packaging

Consumers will be able to select their cosmetics more carefully

thanks to new regulations requiring manufacturers to list

ingredients.

Label laws

What's in cosmetics and personal-care products? TECHNOLOGY

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