Cosmetic Ingredients Archives - Focal Point

California DTSC Finalizes MMA Regulation for Nail Products

Srishti Chaudhari — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:16:40 +0000

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has officially finalized new regulations under the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program, targeting methyl methacrylate (MMA) in nail products. If your company manufactures nail coatings or artificial nails sold in California, or if you advise clients who do, immediate attention is required to meet the upcoming Q2 and Q3 2026 deadlines.

The Scope: What is regulated?

The regulation applies to nail coatings and artificial nails that contain methyl methacrylate (MMA) at concentrations greater than 1,000 parts per million (ppm).

This applies to MMA present as:

An intentionally added ingredient.
A residual.
A contaminant.

Crucial Cut-off: The regulation specifically captures products manufactured on or after April 1, 2026, and sold in California.

Who Must Comply?

The onus is on domestic and foreign manufacturers selling affected products in California. If you are a Canadian manufacturer exporting to the Californian market, you fall under this scope.

Critical Compliance Timeline:

The DTSC has outlined a strict reporting schedule for 2026. Missing these dates can result in non-compliance.

April 1, 2026: The regulation becomes effective.

June 1, 2026 (The PPN Deadline): Manufacturers must submit a Priority Product Notification (PPN) to the DTSC. This notification must list all products sold in California containing MMA > 1,000 ppm.

September 28, 2026 (The Action Deadline): After submitting the PPN, manufacturers must submit one of the following via the CalSAFER portal:

Chemical Removal Intent/Confirmation Notification
Product Removal Intent/Confirmation Notification
Product-Chemical Replacement Intent/Confirmation Notification
Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report (or alternate reporting options)

Why is this happening?

The DTSC has identified MMA exposure through normal nail product use as a potential cause of significant adverse impacts, particularly for sensitive subpopulations such as nail salon workers and pregnant people.

Next Steps for Manufacturers:

Audit Formulations: Immediately review product formulations and testing data to determine if MMA levels exceed the 1,000 ppm threshold.

Prepare for PPN: If you exceed the threshold, begin preparing your Priority Product Notification now to ensure submission before the June 1st deadline.

Decide on a Strategy: Determine whether you will reformulate (remove/replace MMA), remove the product from the California market, or conduct an Alternatives Analysis. If you would like us to review your formulations to ensure they comply with the regulations, contact us now.

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FDA Release: The State of PFAS in Cosmetics Under MoCRA

Srishti Chaudhari — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 21:30:53 +0000

Following the mandates set by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), the U.S. FDA has released its latest report on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in beauty and personal care products.

Based on mandatory industry filings, the FDA’s report offers a snapshot of how prevalent these “forever chemicals” are in the supply chain:

The agency identified 51 different PFAS currently used across 1,744 cosmetic formulations.
These ingredients are primarily added intentionally to enhance specific product attributes, such as water resistance, durability, and texture.
The study concentrated on the 25 most common PFAS, which account for approximately 96% of the intentional use reported.

The Safety Verdict: Still “Inconclusive”

Perhaps the most critical takeaway is that the FDA was unable to make definitive safety determinations for the majority of the chemicals identified. The agency cited significant gaps in data and a lack of publicly available toxicological research as the primary reasons for this uncertainty.

While the report noted that five specific PFAS appear to present low safety concerns, at least one was flagged for potential safety issues.

Currently, there are no federal regulations explicitly prohibiting the intentional addition of PFAS to cosmetics in the United States. However, this report signals that scrutiny is increasing. The FDA maintains its authority to take enforcement action should specific safety risks emerge from the data.

Next Steps: Moving forward, the FDA plans to increase its monitoring and surveillance efforts. The goal is to reduce PFAS prevalence across the consumer product supply chain through expanded testing and resource allocation.

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Reminder – Consultation Deadline for Hotlist Updates

Srishti Chaudhari — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:47:27 +0000

Health Canada is seeking feedback on proposed updates to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist to strengthen consumer safety.

Key proposed changes include:

New restrictions on Basic Violet 4 and Basic Blue 7 – Prohibited in leave-on haor products; limited concentrations in other uses

Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PHMB) – Prohibited in spray/aerosol products; capped at 0.2% in other cosmetics

Full bans proposed for Symphytum spp. (Comfrey) and Brucine and its salts

Stricter limits on Furocoumarins (1 ppm in leave-on products); Imperatoin to be regulated under this broader entry

Comments must be submitted by February 17, 2026. Companies should assess product impact and prepare for compliance.

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Canadian Cosmetic Hotlist Updates

Delsie Braganza — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:17:35 +0000

Please be advised that the Canadian Cosmetic Hotlist was updated on February 28th. A summary of the updates is provided below. Please ensure that any cosmetic products being sold in Canada comply with the new requirements.

If you require any assistance, require formulation reviews, have any questions or would like to understand more about how this impacts your business, please do reach out to us.

Retinal (CAS No. 116-31-4 – Retinaldehyde) – added as a restricted ingredient.

a) Permitted in leave-on products intended for full body application at a maximum concentration of 0.01%.

b) Permitted in other cosmetics at a maximum concentration of 0.05%.

Thioglycolic acid esters (CAS No. 30618-84-9; CAS No. 25103-09-7 – Glyceryl thioglycolate; Isoocytl thioglycolate) – added as a prohibited ingredient.

Mixed cresols and derivatives – entry revised to reflect:

Prohibition of p-Cresol and mixtures thereof – CAS No. 106-44-5; 1319-77-3 – Mixed cresols

m-Cresol (CAS 95-48-7; 108-39-4) restricted as follows:

a) Not permitted in cosmetics intended to be used on or around mucosal membranes such as eyes, mouth or nose.

b) Restricted in other cosmetics at a maximum of 0.1%, and product label must bear the warning “Do not use in the area of the eye, mouth or nose”.

o-Cresol (CAS 95-48-7;108-39-4) restricted as follows:

a) Not permitted in cosmetics intended to be used on or around mucosal membranes such as eyes, mouth or nose.

b) Restricted in other cosmetics at a maximum of 0.1%, and product label must bear the warning “Do not use in the area of the eye, mouth or nose”.

Peroxide and peroxide-generating compounds (CAS No. – 124-43-6; 1305-79-9; 7722-84-1; 1335-26-8; 7632-04-4; 1314-22-3 – Urea peroxide / Urea (carbamide) peroxide; calcium peroxide; calcium dioxide; hydrogen peroxide; magnesium peroxide; sodium perborate; zinc peroxide) – entry revised to:

Introduce a maximum permitted concentration of 10% (as applied) for hair products.

Introduce conditions for eyelash and eyebrow products, which include a maximum permitted concentration of 10%, that such products must be sold for professional use only and the requirement for the statements “For professional use only” and “Avoid contact with eyes and, in the event of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical attention” to be listed on labels.

Indicate that these ingredients are not permitted for use in products intended for application to the genital area.

Conditions of use for oral products were not changed from the previous version.

Benzoyl peroxide (CAS No. 94-36-0) – entry revised to indicate that the ingredient may only be used in nail products for professional use, along with a requirement for the statements “For professional use only”, “Avoid skin contact” and “Read directions carefully before using” to be included on labels.

Retinol and its esters (CAS No. 68-26-8; 127-47-9; 79-81-2;631-89-0; 7069-42-3 – Vitamin A; Retinyl acetate; Retinyl palmitate; Retinyl linoleate; Retinyl propionate) – entry revised to reflect a reduced maximum concentration in leave-on products intended for full body application to 0.2% total retinol equivalents. Other cosmetics continue to be restricted to a maximum restricted concentration of 1% retinol equivalents.

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Changes to the Canadian Cosmetic Notification (CNF) form requirements as of October 9, 2024

Nathan John — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:33:41 +0000

There are number of changes that are in effect as of October 09, 2024 for the Cosmetic Notification (CNF) form requirements

Changes to the CNF came info force on October 09, 2024. The new CNF has been released by Health Canada.
Changes include having to identify whether the cosmetic is a leave-in or rinse-off product, use of different concentration ranges compared to those used previously, the need for label contact details to be listed, requiring a Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent to be listed, removal of the need to include distributor information.
At this time, Health Canada has informed stakeholders that the requirement to list a Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent will not be mandatory on the CNF until early 2025 (exact date to be confirmed) as this has a significant impact to a lot of companies. The Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent will be the primary contact that Health Canada will reach out to, should they require any action in relation to a notified product.
- There are ongoing discussions with Health Canada to clarify the responsibilities that this Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent is to have
- It is believed that the Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent will function as a contact between the brand owner and Health Canada, however, at this time, the regulations detail a lot more responsibility
- The Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent bears the same responsibility as a manufacturer
The above requirement for a Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent will not apply to any CNFs that have already been filed and will only impact new or amendment CNFs filed as of Oct. 09, 2024.

Additional Changes to the Cosmetic Regulations

Ingredient Disclosure Flexibility

For cosmetics sold in small packages, there will be more flexible options for ingredient disclosure. Alternatives such as attaching a tag, tape or card or providing information via a website are now permitted to ensure consumers are informed.

Strengthened Cosmetic Notification Requirements

There is now a requirement to notify Health Canada when a cosmetic is discontinued. The regulations have also been amended to allow Health Canada to halt the sale of a product if the notification requirements are not met or if requested information is not provided.

Removal of Distributor Information

Distributor information will no longer be required on the cosmetic notification. Given that Health Canada can follow up with the manufacturer, importer or Canadian entity / Responsible Canadian Party / Canadian Agent, as needed, regarding distribution of the product for compliance and enforcement purposes.

Identification of Product Type

Cosmetics must now specify whether they are rinse-off or leave-on products in their notifications.

Fragrance Allergen Disclosure

A new mandate will require the disclosure of fragrance allergens on cosmetic labels if they exceed a certain limit. The transition period for the implementation of the changes is three years (July 31, 2026) for new products placed on the market, and five years (July 31, 2028) for existing products to sell through.

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Canadian Cosmetic Regulations Updated!

Srishti Chaudhari — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:39:03 +0000

As a part of updates made to Cosmetic Regulations in Canada published in the Canada Gazette Part II, Health Canada amended regulations to align with EU’s 81 fragrance allergen labeling requirements setting the implementation dates as: July 31, 2026 for new products placed on the market, and July 31, 2028 for existing products.

To begin complying, it is recommended to get an expanded allergen list from all fragrance suppliers and then updating artwork based on analyses of each formula while understanding the disclosure requirements applicable. Health Canada is offering the option for cosmetics sold in small packages, to disclose the entire list of ingredients on a website. A bilingual statement must be made on the label directing the consumers to access the list of ingredients. Certain definitions have also been changed throughout the regulations to ensure the appropriate interpretation of all the terms listed.

Some notable changes have been made to the cosmetic notification requirements:
– The number of concentration ranges have been increased from 7 to 13 to ensure more accurate data is collected.
– A declaration about the formulation being a leave-on or rinse-off product is now required on the CN.
– Mentioning the contact details on the inner label is now mandatory to enable customers to reach out and report any concerns associated with the product.
– There is no longer a requirement for the name and address of the Canadian distributor.
– Any request for additional information made by the Minister must be responded to within 10 days by the manufacturer or importer.
– Health Canada now has authority to stop the sale of a product if the notification requirements are not met or the information requested is not provided.
– The importer will now be responsible to provide evidence of safety. For the purposes of protecting proprietary information, a foreign manufacturer/third party can provide this information to Health Canada on behalf of the importer.

The Regulations will come into force in two parts – the disclosure of fragrance allergens will come into force two years after the day on which they were registered while all the other amendments will come into force 180 days after the day on which they were registered.

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Notice to Stakeholders concerning the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist

Sagarika Sharma — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 15:36:08 +0000

Health Canada is considering certain substances for inclusion in future updates to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (Hotlist). The proposal includes the following:

Additions to the Hotlist
Changes to the conditions for existing entries on the Hotlist
Changes to include additional substance identifiers or make minor corrections

A detailed list of proposed updates to the Hotlist can be found here.

This Notice to Stakeholders is being issued approximately three months before the consultation period. As such, those selling cosmetics in Canada should start to determine which of their products could be impacted by the potential updates and consider any necessary changes to product formulations, distribution and sales. Health Canada will not respond to any information or comments received at this stage.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the updates or would like our assistance determining if this proposal could impact your products.

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Health Canada To Amend Cosmetic Regulations – Enhance Regulatory Oversight

Delsie Braganza — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:41:46 +0000

Health Canada has been proposing amendments to the Cosmetic Regulations to introduce requirements to disclose certain fragrance allergens on the cosmetic product labels as well as amendments to enhance regulatory oversight for cosmetics. These amendments are part of an initiative to better align Canada’s requirements with those established by the European Union and is part of Health Canada’s Regulatory Stock Review Plan for 2022 to 2024.

The amended regulations would inform consumers of the presence of certain fragrance allergens within a cosmetic product, outside of the term “fragrance/parfum”. This change in labelling will allow for consumers the choice of avoiding products containing fragrance allergens to which they may be sensitive.

As this will affect labels of many cosmetic products, Health Canada will determine an appropriate coming-into-force strategy for the cosmetic industry. The opportunity for the industry to provide comments will be expected to take place in spring 2022 and last 70 days.

If you have any questions on this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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California Assembly Bill No. 818

Sagarika Sharma — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 19:36:56 +0000

If your company sells or intends to sell disposable wipes in the State of California, this bill will be important to you. The bill was signed on October 06, 2021 and requires premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes manufactured on or after July 1, 2022, to be labelled clearly and conspicuously with the phrase “Do Not Flush” and a related symbol. This bill will enable consumers to identify premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes composed of petrochemical-derived fibers that are not safe to dispose of using sanitary sewer systems. This initiative will protect public health, the environment, water quality, and public infrastructure used to collect, transport, and treat wastewater.

In addition to the labelling required, the manufacturer or party responsible for the labelling of a product, will be required to participate in a collection study conducted in collaboration with wastewater agencies to understand consumer behaviour. Annual reporting to specified legislative committees and the State Water Resources Control Board under this program is also mandatory.

Please note that enforcement provisions have been established, including a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per day, up to a maximum of $100,000 per violation, to be imposed on the manufacturer or party responsible for labelling and therefore in violation of the provisions.

To avoid last minute label changes, it will be imperative to act now. Should you have any questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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New Legislation for North Carolina

Delsie Braganza — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 19:28:10 +0000

A new act – HB 528 – will require cosmetic manufacturers to disclose on their website the full list of ingredients, including component ingredients within fragrances, flavours and colour additives. In addition, manufacturers would be required to disclose the CAS numbers of each ingredient. While the concentration of each ingredient in the product isn’t required to be disclosed, the list of ingredients shall be in descending order of concentration except for those with a concentration of less than 1%. Any manufacturer violating this act will be subject to civil penalties.

The state government aims to have this act become effective July 1, 2022. However, it should be noted that this bill has only passed the first reading in the house (on April 13, 2021). Since then, there has been no update. The bill must still undergo Referral to Committee and its Second and Third Readings prior to approval.

Since this bill has only passed the initial reading, there is no action needed as yet. However, once this act becomes effective, your company will be required to update your website if selling cosmetic products in North Carolina.

If you have any questions on this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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