The Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) will come into force on December 20th, 2022. The new regulation prohibits checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, stir sticks and straws for importation into Canada.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has provided the following advisory on the administration of this prohibition:
“At it’s inception the plastics ban will not be a Customs Tariff Ban. Our prohibited importations unit have advised that this is something that ECCC will be enforcing away from the border for a short time with a possibility of being incorporated into border enforcement afterwards. As there will be no changes to the Customs tariff, nor will this be enforced by the CBSA, our area will not be publishing a customs notice.”
The ECCC Plastics Division will be enforcing the new regulations and advises on how this would be managed away from the border: the following message was provided:
“The Regulations prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of single-use plastic (SUP) checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics, ring carriers, stir sticks, and straws, with some exceptions for SUP flexible straws.
Verification of compliance with the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations is carried out by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers who act in accordance with the Compliance and Enforcement Policy for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Verification of compliance with the Regulations could include site visits, review of records, product testing (if applicable), and review of written transit documents.”
For more information review the guidance document available on the ECCC website.