G/TBT/N/CAN/501  
 
14 Novemb er 2016  
(16-6244) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original : English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member : CANADA   
If applicable, name of local government involved  (Article 3.2 and 7.2) : 
2. Agency responsible : Environment and Climate Change Canada  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification  shall be indicated if different from above : 
Canada' s Notification Authority a nd Enquiry Point  
111 Sussex Drive, Ottawa  
ON K1A 0G2, Tel : (343)203 -4273 
Or Toll Free in Canada & the United States : 1-844-465-0626 
Fax: 613-943-0346 
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca   
3. Notif ied under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other : 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable) : Toiletries 
(HS: Chapter  33; ICS : 71.100. 70, Chapter 34; ICS : 71.100.40  
5. Title, number of pages  and language(s)  of the notified document : Microbeads in 
Toiletries Regulations  (3 pages, in English; 3 pages, in French)   
6. Description of content : The proposed Regulations would prohibit the manu facture, 
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 pro ducts, skin cleansers 
and toothpaste. The proposed Regulations would not apply to prescription drugs. For the 
purposes of the proposed Regulations, plastic microbeads i nclude any plastic particle of 
5 mm in size, which can vary in chemical composition, siz e, 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 R egulati ons 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 Janua ry 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 toothpas te 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 contai ns a requirement that the presence of 
microbeads in products  is determined using an accredited laboratory to ensure that G/TBT/N/CAN/501  
 
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  laboratory testing is performed to acceptable quality standards. This also serves to inform 
the regulated community of the laboratory s tandards 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.  
7. Objective and rationale , including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable : Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents : Canada Gazette , Part I, 5 November 2016, Pages 3350 -3374 
(available in English and French)  
9. Proposed date of adoption : Summer 2017  
Proposed date of entry into force : 1 January 2018   
10. Final date for comments : 19 January 2017  
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point  [ ] or address, telephone a nd fax 
number s and e mail and website address es, if available , of other body : 
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp -pr/p1/2016/2016 -11-05/html/index -eng.php  
http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp -pr/p1/2016/2016 -11-05/html/index -fra.php