Manufacturing, importing or selling toiletries

Canada has banned microbeads in toiletries

On June 14, 2017, the Government of Canada published the Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations. The regulations ban the manufacture, import, and sale of toiletries that contain plastic microbeads. The prohibition timelines are presented in the table below. These regulations are designed to prevent the release of plastic microbeads from toiletries that rinse off and wash down household drains, contributing to plastic pollution in our oceans, rivers and lakes.

Prohibition timelines
  Prohibition timelines for toiletries containing microbeads Prohibition date
Manufacture / Import Toiletries excluding natural health products* and non-prescription drugs January 1st, 2018
Manufacture / Import All toiletries July 1st, 2018
Sale Toiletries excluding natural health products* and non-prescription drugs July 1st, 2018
Sale All toiletries July 1st, 2019

* Natural health products are defined in the Natural Health Products Regulations.

Toileteries covered by the regulations

For these regulations, toiletries are any personal hair, skin, teeth or mouth care products for cleansing or hygiene, including exfoliants.

Examples of toiletries are exfoliants, bath and body products, skin cleansers and toothpaste.

Definition

The Government of Canada has added plastic microbeads that are equal to or less than 5 millimetres in size to its list of toxic substances. For the purposes of the regulations, microbeads include any solid plastic particles that correspond to that size.

Exclusions

The regulations do not apply to toiletries that are transiting through Canada, or that are prescription drugs as defined by the Food and Drug Regulations.

Identifying toiletries that contain plastic microbeads

“Microbeads” might not be clearly identified on a product’s label, however, plastic ingredients from which microbeads are made may be listed.

Some common ingredients and words to look for to identify microbeads used in exfoliating and cleansing toiletries include:

The prohibition applies to microbeads made from other plastics as well, including bioplastics such as:

If it is not clear whether a product contains microbeads, importers and retailers should verify with the manufacturer.

What you can do

As a manufacturer, an importer or a retailer, it is your responsibility to know what is in the toiletries you are making or supplying. Here are suggestions to help you comply with the regulations.

Manufacturers

Retailers and importers

Contact us

For more information, visit: www.canada.ca/microbeads-toiletries or contact us by email at ec.produits-products.ec@canada.ca

Please contact your regional Environment and Climate Change Canada office if you have any questions or concerns:

Atlantic

Email: ec.promoatlcompro.ec@canada.ca

Quebec

Email: ec.lcpeinfoqc-cepainfoqc.ec@canada.ca

Ontario

Email: ec.promcon-on-compro.ec@canada.ca

Prairie and Northern

Email: ec.promconrpn-compropnr.ec@canada.ca

Pacific and Yukon

Email: ec.microbeadspyr.ec@canada.ca

Related links

For more information on natural health products, consult the Natural Health Products Regulations

For more information on prescription drugs, consult the Food and Drug Regulations

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