Canada Prohibits Use of Certain Single-Use Plastics

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Vol. 1311 | 24 Jun 2022

On June 22, 2022, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Health, published final regulations to prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of 6 categories of single-use plastic products. The Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) are part of the Government of Canada’s plan to address macroplastic and microplastic pollution, meet its target of zero-plastic waste by 2030, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The manufacture, import and sale of the following single-use plastic products are prohibited:

  • Checkout bags
  • Cutlery
  • Flexible straw
  • Foodservice ware
  • Ring carrier
  • Stir stick
  • Straw

These regulations do not apply to plastic manufactured items that are waste, or that are transiting through Canada.

Following are the definitions of these terms:

single-use plastic checkout bag means a plastic manufactured item, made entirely or in part from plastic, that is formed in the shape of a bag that is designed to carry purchased goods from a business and

  1. whose plastic is not a fabric as defined in section 2 of the Textile Labelling Act; or
  2. whose plastic is a fabric as defined in section 2 of the Textile Labelling Act that will break or tear if the bag is
    1. used to carry 10 kg over a distance of 53 m 100 times, or
    2. washed in accordance with the washing procedures specified for a single domestic wash in the International Organization for Standardization standard ISO 6330, entitled Textiles — Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing, as amended from time to time.

single-use plastic cutlery means a plastic manufactured item, made entirely or in part from plastic, that is formed in the shape of a fork, knife, spoon, spork or chopstick and that

  1. contains polystyrene or polyethylene; or
  2. changes its physical properties after being run through an electrically operated household dishwasher 100 times.

single-use plastic flexible straw means a single-use plastic straw that has a corrugated section that allows the straw to bend and maintain its position at various angles.

single-use plastic foodservice ware means a plastic manufactured item, made entirely or in part from plastic, that

  1. is formed in the shape of a clamshell container, lidded container, box, cup, plate or bowl;
  2. is designed for serving or transporting food or beverage that is ready to be consumed; and
  3. contains expanded polystyrene foam, extruded polystyrene foam, polyvinyl chloride, a plastic that contains a black pigment produced through the partial or incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons or an oxo-degradable plastic.

single-use plastic ring carrier means a plastic manufactured item, made entirely or in part from plastic, that is formed in the shape of a series of deformable rings or bands that are designed to surround beverage containers in order to carry them together.

single-use plastic stir stick means a plastic manufactured item, made entirely or in part from plastic, that is designed to stir or mix beverages or to prevent a beverage from spilling from the lid of its container.

single-use plastic straw means a plastic manufactured item, made entirely or in part from plastic, that is formed in the shape of a drinking straw and that

  1. contains polystyrene or polyethylene; or
  2. changes its physical properties after being run through an electrically operated household dishwasher 100 times. (paille en plastique à usage unique)

Timelines for the prohibitions are indicated in the chart below. In addition, there are specific recordkeeping requirements, if these single-use plastics are manufactured or imported for export.

Links to the Regulation and guidance documents:

For questions, please contact Harini Ramaswamy (harini.ramaswamy@intertek.com, +1 224-318-0220), or Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia (pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com, +1 847 212 8273).

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