Canada Bans Two Toxics From Cosmetic Products

The Canadian authorities have added two cosmetic chemicals, isoprene and epichlorohydrin to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (a document featuring prohibited and restricted ingredients modelled to a degree on the restricted lists in the EU Cosmetics Directive). The cosmetics industry isn’t exactly reeling as these ingredients are hardly used anyway, but Health and Environment Canada are scrutinising 200 ‘high-priority’ chemicals over the next year.

Siloxanes D4 and D5, commonly used in deodorants and numerous other cosmetic products as spreading and conditioning agents were found to present a threat to wildlife and the Canadian authorities are going to set limits for these chemicals and for the wastewater generated during production.

In my opinion this hasn’t come a moment too soon as D4 is often included in cosmetic products in concentrations of up to 60%, which is quite shocking given that over the last few years it has been found to interfere with the female reproductive system and accumulate in fatty tissues following exposure, remaining there for at least 1 year.