Should 12 Fragrance Chemicals Be Added to Canada's Toxic Substances List?
Official title: Draft Assessment for the Fourteen Terpene and Terpenoid Substances Group and the Risk Management Scope
The government has assessed 14 chemicals commonly used in fragrances and cosmetics. Twelve of them may pose risks to human health or the environment. Officials are proposing to add these 12 to Canada's toxic substances list, which would allow future restrictions on how they're used in products.
Why This Matters
Use perfume, lotion, or scented products? These chemicals are in many everyday items. If they're added to the toxic list, future rules could change what's in your favourite products. People with sensitivities or health concerns may want to weigh in.
What Could Change
Twelve fragrance chemicals could be added to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. That's the official toxic substances list. Once listed, the government can restrict or ban their use in cosmetics, cleaning products, and other consumer goods.
Key Issues
- Should 12 terpene and terpenoid substances be added to Canada's toxic substances list?
- Are the proposed risk management measures appropriate for protecting human health?
- Is the scientific assessment of these fragrance chemicals accurate?
How to Participate
- Review the draft assessment and risk management scope documents to understand the proposed changes.
- Submit written comments by email to substances@ec.gc.ca. Cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, and the publication date (January 25, 2025).