Government Updates Assessment on Alkanolamines and Fatty Alkanolamides

by | Aug 12, 2026 | California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, Canadian Quality Assurance, Health Canada Updates

On June 27, 2026, the Canadian Government released its final assessment alongside a Significant New Activity (SNAc) notice for the Alkanolamines and Fatty Alkanolamides Group. Overall, the assessment determined that none of the 11 evaluated substances meet the strict toxicity criteria defined in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

However, four specific ingredients that are relevant to the cosmetics industry have been flagged for potential health concerns: Diethanolamine (DEA), lauramide DEA, cocamide DEA, and triethanolamine (TEA). The government is proposing to add these four substances to the CEPA Watch List and apply SNAc rules to them. This means that the government must be notified and must conduct an assessment before any significant new uses of these substances are introduced.

Proposed Notification Triggers:

If a business uses these substances, they will need to notify the government if their usage exceeds a 10-kg annual volume threshold combined with specific concentration limits based on the product type. The proposed concentration triggers are:

  • Diethanolamine (DEA): Notification is required if used at a concentration greater than 3% in all-purpose cleaning liquids or cleaning sprays. Because DEA is already prohibited on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, there is no notification trigger for cosmetic applications.
  • Lauramide DEA: Notification is required if used at a concentration greater than 2.5% in leave-on cosmetic products.
  • Cocamide DEA: Notification is required if concentrations exceed 12.5% in cleaning sprays/liquids, 21% in shampoos or liquid body soaps, or 0.5% in leave-on cosmetics.
  • Triethanolamine (TEA): Notification is required if concentrations exceed 4% in air fresheners, 5% in non-fluoridated toothpaste, or 1% in non-fluoridated mouthwash.

Next Steps and Call for Feedback:

A 60-day public comment period is currently open regarding these proposed SNAcs, which will officially close on August 27, 2026.

If you have any questions regarding the publication and how this may impact your business, please feel free to reach out to us.