An Ontario court has fined cosmetic company Estée Lauder $750,000 after the brand pleaded guilty to using “forever chemicals” in some of its eyeliners.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) enforcement officers discovered the chemical perfluorononyl dimethicone in Estee Lauder eyeliners in 2023.
The company pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act on Jan. 13 in the Ontario Court of Justice. The charges stem from the brand’s failure to notify the government that the chemical was being used in some of its eyeliner products.
Environment Canada said the company was required to notify the government if it started using the chemicals in its makeup products imported into Canada.
“This important requirement allows the government to assess potential health or environmental risks in advance,” the release said.
The company is also required to notify its shareholders of the fine, according to the government news release.
Environment Canada said the money would be put into the federal Environmental Damages Fund, which uses money from fines, penalties, and court orders to “repair environmental damage or benefit the environment.”
The company’s name will also be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry, which lists convictions of corporations committed under environmental laws.
The Epoch Times attempted to reach Estée Lauder for comment but did not hear back by publication time. Estée Lauder’s headquarters are in New York City, but its head office in Canada is located in Toronto.
Other Canadian cosmetics companies have previously been fined for chemical use.
ECCC said its officers conducted “various audits and an inspection” at the Groupe Marcelle’s offices in Dorval, Que., between April 15, 2021 and May 18, 2022.
As a result, it was discovered that the chemical was being used in eye and lip pencil sold under the brands Lise Watier, Marcelle, and Annabelle. The government said the products have since been removed from the distribution chain.
