In the USA, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) are the most important laws regarding cosmetics. Under the law, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA premarket approval, except for colour additives. However, FDA can pursue action against products on the market that do not comply with the law.  All cosmetics sold in Canada must be safe to use and must not pose any health risk. The Cosmetic Regulations and the Food and Drugs Act require that cosmetics sold in Canada are manufactured, prepared, preserved, packed, and stored under sanitary conditions. The manufacturer and importer must provide a list of the product's ingredients and notify Health Canada that they are selling the product.

Topics to be covered:

1. Regulation of cosmetic products in the USA with the main obligations (Registration, labeling, GMP, regulated substances)
2. Focus on OTC products
3. Comparison with Canada where regulations are similar