Updated in November 2026 with the current timetable.
Health Canada amended the Cosmetic Regulations in April 2024 (Canada Gazette, Part II, 24 April 2024) to require fragrance allergens to be declared on labels, in line with the European Union.
What changes
Until now, “parfum” or “aroma” was enough in the Canadian ingredient list. Under the amendment, fragrance allergens must be listed individually above these thresholds:
- 0.01% in rinse-off products (shampoo, shower gel…).
- 0.001% in leave-on products (creams, perfumes…).
Health Canada publishes the lists in its cosmetic labelling guide: a first list of 24 allergens and an extended list of 81.
Deadlines
| Requirement | Date |
|---|---|
| 24 allergens, new and existing products | 12 April 2026 |
| 81 allergens, new products | 1 August 2026 |
| 81 allergens, products already on the market | 1 August 2028 |
For the 24-allergen list, Health Canada announced a phased approach: until 11 April 2027 it focuses on compliance promotion and, from 12 April 2027, on risk-based compliance and enforcement.
How to adapt
- Know the composition of every fragrance, with your supplier’s allergen declaration.
- Calculate the concentration in the finished product and compare it with the threshold for rinse-off or leave-on.
- Update labels in time: packaging changes take months.
- Review products you also sell in the EU: Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 follows very similar logic.
How Kemchain helps
Kemchain Suppliers extracts allergens from your suppliers’ declarations and data sheets, keeps their source and tells you which raw materials contain them and at what concentration. It also checks your ingredients against Canada’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. More in Kemchain for cosmetics.
Updated: 11 November 2026
