Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) posted online, February 9, 2016, Proposed Regulations for Microbeads in Personal Care Products Used to Exfoliate or Cleanse.

The regulatory proposal aims to prevent the release of microbeads to the aquatic environment from microbead-containing personal care products that are designed for exfoliation and cleansing. The proposed regulations will be made under section 93 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) which enables the making of regulations with respect to a substance specified on CEPA 1999 Schedule 1 List of Toxic Substances.

• Effective December 31, 2017, the regulations will prohibit the manufacture and import of microbead-containing personal care products, including cosmetics, that are used to exfoliate or cleanse, excluding non-prescription drugs and natural health products;
• Effective December 31, 2018, the regulations will prohibit the sale of microbead containing personal care products, including cosmetics, that are used to exfoliate or cleanse, excluding non-prescription drugs and natural health products;
• Effective December 31, 2018, the regulations will prohibit the manufacture and import of a microbead-containing non-prescription drug or natural health product that is used to exfoliate or cleanse;
• Effective December 31, 2019, the regulations prohibit the sale or offer for sale of a microbead-containing non-prescription drug or natural health product that is used to exfoliate or cleanse.