Household cleaning products, hand soaps and body soaps (COVID-19)

On this page

• What we are doing
• Household cleaning products covered under the interim policy
• Hand and body soaps covered under the interim policy
• How to import under this interim policy

What we are doing

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented demand for household cleaning products regulated under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) and hand soaps and body soaps regulated as cosmetics under the Food and Drugs Act (FDA). As an interim policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re facilitating the access and sale of certain consumer products and cosmetics in Canada where:

• the label may only be in one official language
• the label may be different from what is required for sale in Canada

To support the health and safety of Canadians, Health Canada has published a list of the products being imported under this policy, including links to the complete label text, in both official languages, as required by the relevant regulations.

Household cleaning products covered under the interim policy

Under the interim policy, Health Canada is facilitating access to certain household cleaning products that do not fully meet the following labelling requirements under the CCPSA:

• the label may only be in one official language
• the hazard symbol(s) is missing on the label
• safety and cautionary information on the label do not conform to the wording set out in the relevant regulations

However, the interim policy does not change the enforcement priority for all other regulatory requirements under the applicable Regulations that apply to household cleaners, such as:

• packaging requirements (for example, child-resistant and leak-proof)
• other labelling information, such as the need for instructions for safe use

The interim policy covers the following household cleaning products regulated under the CCPSA:

• cleaning and furnishing care products used mainly to clean, bleach or scour surfaces
  • products used to polish, protect or improve the appearance of surfaces are excluded
• laundry and dishwashing products used mainly to clean
  • fabric softeners or other products are excluded

Hand and body soaps covered under the interim policy

Under the interim policy, Health Canada is facilitating access to hand and body soaps, regulated as cosmetics under the FDA, that do not fully meet the following labelling requirements:

• the label may only be in one official language
• the ingredients listed on the label are not listed exactly as outlined in the regulations

However, the interim policy does not change the enforcement priority for all other regulatory requirements under the applicable Regulations that apply to cosmetics, such as:

• labelling for avoidable hazards
• prohibiting products that contain an ingredient that may cause injury

To note, hand and body soaps are still subject to the requirements under the FDA, specifically sections 16 to 18.

The interim policy covers hand and body soaps, regulated as cosmetics under the FDA, used mainly to clean the skin. It does not cover:

• products that have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or Natural Product Number (NPN)
• other products where skin cleaning is not the main function

How to import under this interim policy

To import under this interim policy, importers are required to fill out a form and email it prior to import to hc.ccpsa-lcspc.sc@canada.ca.

Importers will also be expected to:

• provide to Health Canada and make available on their website the label text, with required safety information, as per the CCPSA or FDA, as appropriate, in both official languages, and any required hazard symbols
  • mock-up labels are not necessary
  • a list of websites received by Health Canada is available
• distribute any products with bilingual or French-only labels to regions of Canada where the population mainly speaks and understands French

In addition, importers are required to provide sellers with a means to inform consumers, at the time of sale, of the website where bilingual label text is posted. This could be made available through a sticker applied directly to the products, posters, or signage with take-away pamphlets at the point of sale. Effective immediately, all new importers of these products through the interim policy must meet this requirement; importers who have previously submitted a form are to meet this requirement no later than June 8, 2020.

Note: Health Canada will lift the interim policy when the regular supply stabilizes.

Remember to continue to:

• record and report all side effects and incidents concerning the use of a product to Health Canada
• keep records on the source and the destination of your consumer products

Related links

• Labelling of hand sanitizers, disinfectants, soaps and cleaning products in the context of the COVID-19 response
• Guidance document - Disinfectant drugs
• Guide on Health Canada’s interim expedited licensing approach for the production and distribution of alcohol-based hand sanitizers
• Guidance document - Management of disinfectant drug applications
• Call to action: Canadian manufacturers needed to help combat COVID-19
• Hand-Sanitizers Manufacturing Exchange