Bay oil and your health

Learn about bay oil, its potential health risks and how to reduce your exposure

On this page

• About bay oil
• Safety of bay oil
• What we're doing to reduce your exposure to bay oil
• What you can do to reduce your exposure to bay oil

About bay oil

Bay oil is extracted from the pimentaplant and is known as an essential oil. It can occur naturally in food and may be used as a food-flavouring agent. It's also used as a fragrance ingredient in a variety of products available to consumers, such as:

• pest control products
• non-prescription drugs
• natural health products
• cosmetic products, including:
  • moisturizer
  • bath product
  • body cleanser
  • hair conditioner

Bay oil can be purchased as an essential oil at a concentration of up to 100%. It may be used by consumers as an ingredient in do-it-yourself (DIY) products and applications at home.

Bay oil may also be called:

• myrcia oil
• Bay rum oil
• West Indian bay oil
• Pimenta racemosa oil

Safety of bay oil

Under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan, we review and manage the potential risks that chemical substances can pose to people in Canada and the environment. The first stage of the review process is a draft chemical risk assessment.

We have completed the draft assessment of bay oil. We're proposing that bay oil may increase your risk of cancer when used in certain DIY products that are inhaled or applied to the skin, including:

• aromatic diffusers (aromatherapy)
• homemade products, such as body moisturizer

We're also proposing that:

• bay oil is not harmful to the environment
• levels of exposure to bay oil from food and other products available to consumers considered in our assessment, do not pose a risk to human health

What we're doing to reduce your exposure to bay oil

Our assessment is not yet final. We're continuing to evaluate the potential risk posed by bay oil before we publish our final conclusion. This includes:

• tracking new information on exposures or hazards
• asking the public to comment on our draft assessment
• reviewing and using this information to help inform our final assessment

If the proposed findings for bay oil are confirmed in the final assessment, we will consider:

• adding it to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
  • this would allow Canada to implement preventive or control actions for the life cycle of the substance, including:
    • research and development stage
    • manufacture
    • use
    • storage
    • transport
    • disposal or recycling
• taking actions to help reduce exposures to bay oil from products that are inhaled or applied to the skin to levels that help protect human health
  • this includes use of the essential oil in DIY applications

Methyl eugenol, a chemical found in bay oil, is already described as restricted on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. This list provides information to manufacturers on the permitted use of essential oils that contain methyl eugenol in certain cosmetics.

You can provide any comments on our draft assessment and proposed risk management during the 60-day public comment period.

What you can do to reduce your exposure to bay oil

You can take steps to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.

Limit your use of bay oil in DIY products and applications that are inhaled or applied to the skin.

Read product labels and follow all safety warnings and directions:

• labels on cosmetics, natural health products, and non-prescription drugs must list all ingredients and instructions for use
• only use over-the-counter products that have a drug identification number (DIN) or natural product number (NPN)
  • these numbers mean the product is regulated under the Food and Drugs Act
• follow the manufacturer's directions to dispose of the product safely

If you're unsure if your product contains bay oil, contact the manufacturer.

If you're exposed to bay oil at work, talk to your employer and occupational health and safety (OHS) official about:

• relevant laws
• safe handling and storage practices
• requirements under OHS legislation and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Related Links

• Chemical risk assessments
• Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
• Use household chemicals safely
• Toxic substances list: schedule 1
• Measuring your exposure to chemicals
• Canada's systems for addressing chemicals
• Overview of the Chemicals Management Plan

For industry and professionals

• Risk assessment of chemical substances
• Phenylpropanoids and Aldehydes Group – information sheet
• Risk management scope for the phenylpropanoids and aldehydes group