The Ontario Court of Justice has issued a 750,000 CAD fine (approximately 14 billion VND) against the Estée Lauder group for selling cosmetic products containing unverified hazardous substances. The ruling follows the company’s admission of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
Violations and the risks of “Forever Chemicals”
During inspections in mid-2023, Canadian authorities identified Perfluorononyl Dimethicone in the brand’s eyeliner lines. This compound belongs to the PFAS group (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their extreme persistence.
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Characteristics: These substances possess exceptionally strong chemical bonds, making them virtually non-biodegradable in nature and prone to bioaccumulation in the human body.
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Health Impact: Medical research links prolonged PFAS exposure to severe health risks, including hormonal disruptions, liver damage, and potential carcinogenic effects.
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Industrial Use: In cosmetics, these chemicals are typically used to enhance product durability and water resistance on the skin.
Strict enforcement by Canadian Authorities
In addition to the financial penalty, Estée Lauder faces supplementary sanctions to ensure transparency and accountability:
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Environmental Blacklisting: The corporation’s name has been added to the Environmental Offenders Registry, a public database of businesses convicted under federal environmental laws.
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Shareholder Notification: The court mandated that the company inform its shareholders about the legal proceedings and the violation.
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Regulatory Non-compliance: Under Canadian law, companies must notify the government for risk assessment before introducing products with significant new substances. Estée Lauder admitted to bypassing this mandatory regulatory process.
All fine proceeds will be allocated to the Canadian government’s Environmental Damages Fund to support environmental restoration and protection initiatives.