Upcoming new regulation introduces the prohibition of plastic microbeads in the manufacture, import and sale of toiletries that is used to exfoliate or cleanse in personal care products. The Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations was published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 151, June 2017.
These regulations will help protect the environment by reducing the quantity of plastic microbeads entering Canadian freshwater and marine ecosystems. The Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations comes into effect January 1, 2018.
The Government of Canada, under the authority of Canada Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA),
prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of toiletries that contain plastic microbeads, including non-prescription drugs and natural health products. For the purposes of the regulations, plastic microbeads include any plastic particle equal to or less than 5 mm in size. The types of toiletries covered include products such as bath and body products, skin cleansers and toothpaste.
As of January 1, 2018, the manufacture and import of toiletries that contain plastic microbeads will be prohibited unless the toiletries are also natural health products or non-prescription drugs, in which case the prohibition will begin July 1, 2018.
As of July 1, 2018, the sale of toiletries that contain plastic microbeads will be prohibited, unless the toiletries are also natural health products or non-prescription drugs, in which case the prohibition will begin July 1, 2019.
For further information and details visit Government of Canada website here.