Export Certificates Program

Cosmetics, as defined in the Canadian Food and Drugs Act as “any substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold or represented for use in cleansing, improving or altering the complexion, skin, hair or teeth, and includes deodorants and perfumes,” are eligible for both CFS and GMP certificates.

Cosmetic-Like Drugs & Cosmetic-Like Natural Health Products, are eligible if they fall within any one of the following nine categories: acne therapy, anti-dandruff products, fluoride-containing anti-caries products, medicated skin products, diaper rash products, antiseptic skin cleansers, sunburn protectants, skin whiteners and tooth whiteners.

*Products outside of these categories may not qualify for a CFS issued by Cosmetics Alliance Canada. Please contact us for further information or clarification.

In order to obtain a Cosmetics Alliance Canada certificate, applicants must first submit an affidavit based on the Certificate Guidance Documents and the sample affidavits included in the document. After we receive the required documentation, we draft a new affidavit based on the original affidavit submitted by the applicant, which includes an identification of the affiant, the company name and address, location of manufacturer and a statement swearing that, to the best of the affiant’s knowledge, the products listed in the document are freely sold or eligible for sale throughout Canada. For GMP documents, the affidavit must also include a statement declaring adherence to a specific set of GMPs. Cosmetics Alliance Canada is responsible for ensuring that the final certificate is notarized by a qualified Notary Public and then certified by the Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce. The process can take 2-4 weeks, depending on the service requested and the complexity of the certificate. Cosmetics Alliance Canada membership is not necessary, but as a member you will benefit from a reduction in the cost.

Cosmetics Alliance Canada offers the additional services of facilitating the apostille or authentication & legalization of your Export Certificates and other Canadian documents. Apostilles and authentications are performed by the federal or provincial governments by verifying the stamp, seal and signature of the notary public that signed the document. Legalizations are performed by the importing country’s consulate or embassy in Canada by adding their stamp, seal, signature, or other unique form of verification to the document.

APOSTILLE

In May 2023, Canada formally joined the Hague Apostille Convention (“HAC”), which came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024.  The HAC eliminates the requirement to have certain documents legalized by the consulates/embassies in Canada of its 125 member countries. For HAC member countries (listed here), documents that previously required government authentication & consulate/ embassy legalization now require only one certification called an Apostille, making the process much simpler and less expensive!

GOOD NEWS for CA’s Export Certificates Program!  The elimination of consulate/embassy legalizations has created a competitive, even favourable, advantage for CA’s Export Certificates Program by reducing the cost of a single Certificate by hundreds of dollars and wait times by up to several months. To ensure continued recognition and acceptance of CA Certificates in foreign jurisdictions, CA now apostilles all Export Certificates destined to HAC member countries.

AUTHENTICATION & LEGALIZATION

For those countries that are not signatories to the HAC, government authentication & consulate/embassy legalization services will continue to be offered.  Fees, processes and timelines vary by country and some change monthly.

Let Cosmetics Alliance perform these complicated and time-consuming tasks on your behalf while you concentrate on other important business matters. For authentication & legalization fees or for more information on CA’s Export Certificates Program, please contact Deborah Kwinter at 905-580-1400 or dkwinter@cosmeticsalliance.ca.

Only one original certificate will be produced and cannot be photocopied or duplicated for any purpose. As each certificate will bear an original number, requests for multiple originals must be stated in the cover letter and accompanied by the full certificate fee for each additional copy.

Because CFSs are generally prepared in the Country of Origin, Cosmetics Alliance Canada generally prepares CFSs only for products that are manufactured in Canada. In certain situations, however, we may prepare CFSs for products that are manufactured in the United States or abroad and distributed in Canada. It is also within our discretion to determine whether an Affidavit must reference the point of manufacture. Cosmetics Alliance Canada does not produce GMP certificates for products manufactured outside of Canada.

• The production of Cosmetic Alliance Canada certificate commences when all of the requirements in this document are met.
• Cosmetics Alliance Canada reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant. Such requests may include the following: label copy, product ingredient list, product samples, name and coordinates of the Brand owner.
• Cosmetics Alliance Canada may not prepare a certificate for any product known to us as subject to active regulatory action, scrutiny by Health Canada or scrutiny by the U.S. FDA. While we rely on the Company Affidavit for assurance and protection, if there are issues regarding a particular product, we will verify that there are no outstanding citations. Cosmetics Alliance Canada also reserves the right not to issue either a CFS or GMP Certificate if the standards of this program are not strictly adhered to.
• It is the responsibility of the company to ensure that all statements included in the cover page, affidavit, and attachments are accurate, true and verifiable at the time of submission.
• Certificate applicants are subject to the provisions of the Criminal Code, which makes it a criminal offence to knowingly and willfully make or submit false or fraudulent statements.

Preparation of the Certificate will commence upon receipt of payment and all required documents. Payment is preferred in Canadian funds via company cheque or credit card. There are no refunds. The fees listed below include costs and charges paid towards processing the Certificate, such as notarization, certification by the Board of Trade (Chamber of Commerce), couriers, and other related administrative costs.  Member and non-member fees are offered.  If unsure if your company is a CA member, please check CA’s website at www.cosmeticsalliance.ca or contact CA directly.  Certificates are offered for the 125 Hague Apostille Convention signatory countries (listed here) as well as for other non-signatory countries.

All fees are in Canadian Dollars.  One original Certificate will be provided per country, per request. Certificates may list multiple products.

FEES:

*Apostille may take an additional day or so

*Authentication and legalization fees are extra. Fees, processes, and timelines vary by country and are subject to change.

Please add applicable tax to all payments. Taxes are based on CDN billing addresses only.
GST #R106844814

 Member Rate is available to members in good standing for applications where:

I) the applicant is the owner/licensee of the brand in Canada for which the application is being made; or

II) The applicant is a custom manufacturer or agent and the brand owner is also a Cosmetics Alliance Canada member in good standing.

Please be advised, the imposition of economic sanctions against foreign States and non-State actors remains an important instrument for the international community in the enforcement of international norms and laws. Sanctions can encompass a wide variety of measures, including limitations on official and diplomatic contacts or travel, the imposition of legal measures to restrict or prohibit trade or other economic activity between Canada and the target state, or the seizure or freezing of property situated in Canada. In order to maximize the effectiveness of a sanctions regime, particularly one involving trade and economic measures, Canadian policy seeks to ensure that sanctions measures are applied multilaterally whenever possible.

It is the responsibility of the certificate applicant to ensure that they are adhering to all Canadian Laws and Regulations. For information on all sanctions, please visit Canadian Economic Sanctions.

For Cosmetics Alliance Canada’s complete Certificate Guidance Document, template affidavits and checklist, contact Deborah Kwinter at:

Cosmetics Alliance Canada

420 Britannia Road East, Suite 102
Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 3L5

E: dkwinter@cosmeticsalliance.ca

Tel: (905) 580-1400