Antiseptic Skin Cleansers (Personal Domestic Use)

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Monograph: Antiseptic Skin Cleansers (Personal Domestic Use) (PDF Version - 83 K)

Date

2021-12-24

Foreword

This monograph is intended to replace the existing Antiseptic Skin Cleansers of March 20, 2020. This monograph describes the requirements necessary to receive market authorization [i.e. a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or a Natural Product Number (NPN)], for topical antiseptic hand cleansers intended for domestic/personal care use. Domestic/personal care antiseptic products are self-selected by a consumer from a retail outlet for their own personal household use as part of a skin cleansing routine. This monograph does not apply to antiseptic products intended for personal use in a commercial or institutional setting (e.g. workplaces, washrooms in public buildings), or for professional use in food-handling premises or in healthcare settings (e.g. hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dental offices). The monograph also does not apply to personal use antiseptic products for wound cleansing, or application to sites other than the hands. The monograph identifies the permitted medicinal and non-medicinal ingredients, concentrations, indications, directions and conditions of use for these products to be market authorized without the submission to Health Canada of additional evidence. Products which do not meet the criteria outlined in this document can apply for market authorization outside of the monograph stream. Applicants/sponsors should consult the Human-Use Antiseptic Drugs guidance document, and/or request a pre-submission meeting to discuss appropriate supporting data. For products intended as wound cleansers, applicants should refer to the First Aid Antiseptics monograph.

Health products that are not to be ingested (e.g., for topical use only) such as Antiseptic Skin Cleansers are not permitted to be packaged in food and/or beverage containers.

Domestic/personal use antiseptic hand cleansers should be used sparingly and are not a substitute for the use of plain soap and water. Antiseptic skin cleansers should be recommended for use on lightly soiled hands only as a second-line approach or when soap and water are not available

Applicants are reminded that antiseptic skin cleansers, like other non-prescription drugs or natural health products, are subject to the Food and Drug Regulations or the Natural Health Products Regulations administered by the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD). This includes requirements related to labelling, manufacturing and product specifications. Additional information on labels, outside of those specified in the monograph, such as additional directions for use and/or non-therapeutic claims are acceptable as long as they meet the Guidelines for the Nonprescription and Cosmetic Industry Regarding Non-therapeutic Advertising and Labelling Claims, the Guidelines for Consumer Advertising of Health products for Nonprescription drugs, Natural Health Products, Vaccines and Medical Devices, and are not false, misleading or counterintuitive to the use of the product.

The development of this monograph is the result of a thorough review of existing regulations, guidance documents, policies and current practices within Health Canada and other leading regulatory agencies.

Note: The solidus (/) indicates that the terms and/or the statements are synonymous. Either term or statement may be selected by the applicant. Text in parentheses is additional optional information which can be included on the Product Licence Application form and label at the applicant's discretion.

Medicinal Ingredient(s)

Antiseptic skin cleansers are classified as natural health products (NHPs) if they contain only ingredients from Table 1. Applicants applying for an NPN can access the appropriate forms and guidance at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/natural-non-prescription.html.

Antiseptic skin cleansers are classified as non-prescription drugs if they contain at least one ingredient from Table 2 at a quantity listed. Applicants applying for a DIN can access the appropriate forms and guidance at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/applications-submissions/guidance-documents.html.

Table 1: NHP medicinal ingredients

Proper Name1 Common Name1 Source Material1 Quantity2
Common name(s)

Table 1 footnotes

Table 1 footnote 1

At least one of the following references was consulted per proper name, common name, and source material: O'Neil et al. 2018; Nikitakis 2016; USP 41.

Return to table 1 footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

At least one of the following references was consulted per dosage: Sweetman 2017; WHO 2010; WHO 2009; Zimmerman 1993.

Return to table 1 footnote 2 referrer

Ethyl alcohol
  • Alcohol
  • Anhydrous alcohol
  • Ethanol
  • Ethyl alcohol
  • Grain alcohol

Ethanol

60-80%

2-propanol
  • Isopropanol
  • Isopropyl alcohol

Isopropanol

60-75%

Table 2: Non-prescription drug medicinal ingredients

Proper Name Common Name Source Material Quantity
Common name(s)
  • Alkyldimethyl(phenylmethyl)ammonium chloride
  • Ammonium, alkyldimethyl(phenylmethyl)-, chloride
 Benzalkonium chloride Benzalkonium chloride 0.1 - 0.15%
  • Benzyldimethyl[2-[2-
    (p-1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylphenoxy)
    ethoxy]ethyl]ammonium chloride
  • N.N-Dimethyl-N-[2-[2-[4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy]ethoxy]
    ethyl]benzenemethanaminium chloride

Benzethonium chloride

Benzethonium chloride

0.05 - 0.5%
  • 1,1'-Hexamethylenebis
    [5-(p-chlorophenyl)biguanide]
    di-D-gluconate

  • N,N''-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-
    2,4,11,13-tetraazatetradecanediimidamide di-D-gluconate
  • Chlorhexidine digluconate
  • Chlorhexidine gluconate
  • Chlorhexidine digluconate
  • Chlorhexidine gluconate
 2 - 4%
  • 4-Chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol
  • 4-Chloro-3,5-xylenol
Chloroxylenol Chloroxylenol 0.5 - 3%
  • 2,4,4'-Trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether
  • 5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol
 Triclosan Triclosan 0.1 - 1%

Route of administration

Topical

Dosage form(s)

Acceptable dosage forms for the age category listed in this monograph and specified route of administration are indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document.

Use(s) or Purpose(s)

Self-Care Framework Category I Uses or Purposes:

For all ingredients, the following statements may be made:

Dose

Subpopulation(s):

Children 2 to 11 years, Adolescents 12 to 17 years, Adults 18 years and older

Quantity:

See Tables 1 and 2.

Permitted combinations:

No combinations are permitted

Directions for use:

For all products:

For products intended as handrubs or wipes:

For products intended as handwashes:

Duration of use:

No statement required.

Risk information

Cautions and warnings

For all products:

For products containing ethanol or isopropanol:

Contraindication(s):

For products containing chlorhexidine gluconate:

Known Adverse Reaction(s)

No statement is required.

Non-medicinal ingredients

Ingredients must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in that database, the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR), and the current Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, when relevant.

Storage condition(s)

No statement required

Specifications

This monograph describes those requirements that are specific to this class of non-prescription drugs and to natural health products (NHPs). Any change to the manufacturing process that impacts the safety and efficacy of the ingredients, such as the use of novel technology (e.g. nanotechnology), requires supporting data and will be reviewed outside the monograph.

For products containing Table 1 NHP medicinal ingredients only:

The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the NNHPD Quality of Natural Health Products Guide. The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.

For products containing Table 2 non-prescription drug medicinal ingredients:

Requirements described in the Regulations to the Food and Drugs Act must be met.

Drug facts table (Format Optional for Self-Care Category I)

Drug Facts Table

Drug Facts Table

Drug Facts Table

Drug Facts Table

Drug Facts Table

References cited