What Are The Soapmaking Laws In Canada?

In Canada, the laws governing soapmaking are primarily related to the labeling and packaging of soap products. These laws are intended to ensure that consumers have accurate and complete information about the products they are purchasing, and to protect the public from any potential harm that may be caused by using a product that is improperly labeled or packaged.

Under Canadian law, soap products must be labeled with the following information:

• The common or usual name of the product
• The net quantity of the product, expressed in metric units
• The name and principal place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor
• The list of ingredients under their INCI names, in descending order of predominance by weight
• Any necessary cautionary or warning statements

As soap products in Canada are classified under cosmetics in Canada, soap manufacturers are required to submit the full list of ingredients that match the INCI names of their labels to Health Canada for each type of soap product and their variants that they sell, as well as a quantity range of each ingredient respectively. Each ingredient must also comply for use in Canadian cosmetics.

Soap products must also be packaged in a way that protects the product from damage, contamination, or tampering, and that allows the consumer to easily see and identify the product.

Retailers who sell soap products are required to either have the full label including the ingredients attached to the product or at the very least, have the full label made available at the till during time of purchase in order to  be compliant.

In addition to these general requirements, there may be additional laws and regulations that apply to specific types of soap products, such as medicated soaps or natural health products.

If you are planning to purchase soap products in Canada, it is important to thoroughly read the labels to familiarize yourself with all exactly what you are buying to know whether it's the right product for you and to ensure that the products that you intend to purchase are in compliance.