If you plan to sell cosmetics in Canada, one of the first compliance steps is completing Health Canada’s Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF). This form is an essential regulatory requirement under the Food and Drugs Act and the Cosmetic Regulations. It helps Health Canada monitor products for safety and ensure compliance with ingredient restrictions and labeling standards.

What Is the Cosmetic Notification Form?

The Cosmetic Notification Form is the official submission that manufacturers, importers, or distributors must file within 10 days of selling a cosmetic in Canada. This applies to both domestic and imported products, whether sold online, in stores, or through other channels.

When you submit the CNF, you provide Health Canada with:

• Product identification (brand name, product name, form, and function)
• Ingredient list, with exact concentrations for restricted or prohibited substances
• Manufacturer, distributor, or importer details
• Contact information for a Canadian representative (mandatory for imported products)

The CNF is not an approval or licensing process; rather, it is a notification. Once submitted, Health Canada reviews the information for compliance and safety oversight.

How Is It Used?

Health Canada uses the CNF to:

• Maintain an up-to-date record of cosmetics sold in Canada
• Monitor ingredient safety, including restricted or prohibited substances
• Facilitate follow-up if adverse reactions are reported
• Ensure labels meet Canadian requirements (bilingual labeling, ingredient nomenclature, warnings)

Companies are also responsible for updating their CNF whenever product information changes — such as reformulation, name changes, or discontinuation.

Recent Changes to the Notification Process

In recent years, Health Canada has modernized and streamlined the CNF process:

1. Online submissions via the CNF Portal – replacing paper or email submissions.
2. Mandatory account registration – through the Government of Canada’s Single Sign-On system, improving security and record-keeping.
3. Improved ingredient reporting – integrated drop-down menus for INCI names reduce errors and improve consistency.
4. Increased data validation – the system flags missing or incorrect information before submission, minimizing delays.
5. Mandatory Canadian importer – discussed separately below.

These updates aim to improve compliance tracking, enhance data accuracy, and reduce administrative burden for businesses.

The Mandatory Requirement: Canadian Importer

One critical point for international cosmetic brands: if you are importing cosmetics into Canada, you must have a Canadian-based importer listed on the Cosmetic Notification Form.

This importer is legally responsible for:

• Ensuring the product complies with all applicable regulations
• Acting as the primary contact for Health Canada
• Responding promptly to safety or compliance issues

If your business does not have a Canadian presence, partnering with a qualified importer is essential to meet this requirement.

How dicentra Can Help

Navigating Canada’s cosmetic regulations can be complex — but you don’t have to do it alone.

At dicentra, we specialize in helping companies prepare and submit their Cosmetic Notification Forms quickly and accurately. We can also act as your Canadian importer, ensuring you meet Health Canada’s mandatory requirements while streamlining your market entry.