Your regulatory partner

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulates cosmetic products in the U.S. at a national level, with the FD&C Act (Food, drug and cosmetics Act) and the FPLA (Fair Packaging and Labeling Act).

In addition, certain states also have their own regulations to complete the ones at national level. It’s the case of California, with the California Safe Cosmetic Program (CSCP), that is more stringent than the FD&C Act.

In Canada, cosmetic products are regulated by Health Canada. Cosmetics sold in Canada must comply with the Food and Drugs Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act.

The exact definition of what is a cosmetic product depends on the regulation. 

In Canada, according to the Food and Drug Act, a cosmetic is "any substance or mixture of substances, manufactured, sold or represented for use in cleansing, improving or altering the complexion, skin, hair or teeth and includes deodorants and perfumes."

In the United States, a cosmetic product is defined by the FDA as "a product (excluding pure soap) intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance."

The category of your product has a significant impact on the way your product is regulated. Yet, identifying your product's category is not always as easy and obvious as it seems.

To chose the right category, you need to rely on the definitions given in your regulatory area and make sure your product's intended use matches the definition.

Read this article to know more.

To export cosmetic products to the EU, you need to comply with regulation EC 1223/2009. Here is a quick guide with the steps to follow to ensure your compliance!