Toiletries (HS: Chapter 33; ICS: 71.100.70, Chapter 34; ICS: 71.100.40

Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations (3 pages, in English; 3 pages, in French)

The proposed Regulations would prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or
offer for sale of toiletries that contain plastic microbeads including
non-prescription drugs and natural health products. The types of
toiletries covered include products used for exfoliating or cleansing
such as bath and body products, skin cleansers and toothpaste. The
proposed Regulations would not apply to prescription drugs. For the
purposes of the proposed Regulations, plastic microbeads include any
plastic particle of 5 mm in size, which can vary in chemical
composition, size, shape and density.

Toiletries are defined as any personal hair, skin, teeth or mouth care products for cleansing or hygiene, including exfoliants and any of those products that is also a natural health product as defined in the Natural Health Products Regulations or a non-prescription drug.

The prohibition of the manufacture and import of exfoliating or cleansing toiletries that contain plastic microbeads excluding natural health products or non-prescription drugs is targeted to come into effect on January 1, 2018 with the prohibition of sale or offer for sale of these products by July 1, 2018. Prohibitions would come into effect for the manufacture and import of exfoliating or cleansing non-prescription drugs and natural health products, such as toothpaste that contain plastic microbeads, on July 1, 2018, with a prohibition on sale or offer for sale of these products by July 1, 2019.

Regulates are not required to submit reports or conduct product testing under the proposed Regulations. The proposal contains a requirement that the presence of microbeads in products is determined using an accredited laboratory to ensure that laboratory testing is performed to acceptable quality standards. This also serves to inform the regulated community of the laboratory standards that will be used to determine the presence of plastic microbeads or to verify compliance with the regulatory provisions. The proposed Regulations would not apply to a toiletry that contains plastic microbeads and that is in transit through Canada, from a place outside Canada to another place outside Canada.