Are cosmetics such as skin creams, shampoos, toothpastes, etc. regulated by the Natural Health Products Regulations?
Cosmetics are regulated as natural health products (NHPs) only if they meet both the function and substance components of the NHP definition. The function component refers to the intended use of the product. For a product to be considered a NHP, it must be manufactured, sold or represented for use in: • the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of a disease, disorder or abnormal physical state or its symptoms in humans; • restoring or correcting organic functions in humans; or • modifying organic functions in humans, such as modifying those functions in a manner that maintains or promotes health. The substance component refers to the medicinal ingredients in a NHP. According to the definition, NHPs can only contain medicinal substances found on Schedule 1 of the Regulations, and must exclude substances found on Schedule 2. Only if these two components are present will a product be considered a NHP and be subject to the Natural Health Products Regulations. The fact that a produ
