Fact sheet: Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations
On June 22, 2022, the Government of Canada published the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations. To prevent plastic pollution, the Regulations prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of 6 categories of single-use plastics that pose a threat to the environment.
Alternate format
Single-use plastic items prohibited by the Regulations
Checkout bags designed to carry purchased goods from a business and typically given to a customer at the retail point of sale
Cutlery includes knifes, forks, spoons, sporks, and chopsticks
Ring carriers flexible and designed to surround beverage containers in order to carry them together
Stir sticks designed to stir or mix beverages, or to prevent a beverage from spilling from the lid of its container
Foodservice ware designed for serving or transporting food or beverage that is ready to be consumed and
- is a clamshell container, lidded container, box, cup, plate or bowl; and
- contains expanded or extruded polystyrene foam, polyvinyl chloride, carbon black or an oxo-degradable plastic.
Straws includes straight drinking straws and flexible straws, which have a corrugated section that allows the straw to bend, packaged with beverage containers (i.e. juice boxes and pouches)
The Regulations do not apply to plastic manufactured items that are waste or that are transiting through Canada.
Rules for single-use plastic flexible straws to ensure accessibility
- Manufacture and import are allowed
- Retail stores can sell straws in packages of 20 or more on the following conditions:
- they are not on public display; and
- provided only if requested by the customer.
- A business may sell straws in packages of 20 or more to another business
- Individuals can give straws to others in a family or social setting
- Care institutions can provide straws to their patients or residents
| Item | Manufacture and import for sale in Canada | Sale | Manufacture, import and sale for export |
|---|---|---|---|
| Checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, stir sticks, straws* | December 20, 2022 | December 20, 2023 | December 20, 2025 |
| Ring carriers | June 20, 2023 | June 20, 2024 | December 20, 2025 |
| Flexible straws packaged with beverage containers | Not applicable | June 20, 2024 | December 20, 2025 |
*Single-use plastic flexible straws that are not packaged with beverage containers are excluded from the prohibitions under certain conditions.
Reusable substitutes made of plastic
Single-use plastic checkout bags, cutlery and straws have reusable substitutes also made of plastic that are not subject to the Regulations. Performance criteria differentiate between single-use and reusable items for these product categories. Tests to determine whether a product meets the criteria for single-use must be conducted by an accredited laboratory.
Record keeping for export
If you manufacture or import any of the 6 categories of single-use plastics for export, you must keep records providing written evidence that the single-use plastic has been or will be exported. You must keep records and supporting documents in Canada for at least 5 years.
What you can do
As a manufacturer, importer or seller, it is your responsibility to know what single-use plastic items you can make or supply.
Manufacturers
- Inform your customers of the prohibition
- Plan to cease manufacture and export according to the prohibition dates
Importers
- Inform your foreign suppliers of the prohibition
- Plan to cease the import and export according to the prohibition dates
Sellers
- Inform your suppliers and customers of the prohibition
- Plan to cease the sale according to the prohibition dates
- Learn more about the Regulations, and how to comply with and adapt to them:
- Full text of the Regulations
- Regulations' Technical Guidelines which explain in greater details the requirements of the Regulations
- Guidance for selecting alternatives to learn more about best practices for choosing alternatives to the 6 categories of single-use plastics
Disclaimer
This information does not in any way supersede or modify the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations, or offer any legal interpretation of those Regulations. Where there are any inconsistencies between this information and the Regulations, the Regulations take precedence. A copy of the Regulations is available online.
Contact us
For more information, visit the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations website.
If the information you need is unavailable on our website, contact Environment and Climate Change Canada at PlastiquesUU-SUPlastics@ec.gc.ca.
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