Canada - Proposed Regulation to Prohibit Certain Single-Use Plastic Items

​Canada proposed a regulation under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, (Cepa) 1999 to prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of six categories of single-use plastics (SUPs):

1. checkout bags
   
2. cutlery
   
3. foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics
   
4. ring carriers
   
5. stir sticks and
   
6. straws
   

Manufacture and import for the purposes of export would not be subject to the proposed prohibition. Checkout bags, cutlery and straws have reusable substitutes so the proposed Regulations would identify performance standards to differentiate between single-use and reusable items for these three product categories. 

The proposed Regulations would also provide exemptions to accommodate people with disabilities. These exemptions are linked to the conditions upon which straws are sold. Therefore, the prohibitions on sale of straws would come into force one year after the proposed Regulations are registered. The prohibition on sale for all other single-use items would come into force two years after the proposed Regulations are registered. The prohibitions on manufacture and import of all six single-use items would come into force one year after registration of the proposed Regulations.

It is now open for public consultation until March 5, 2022.​