Summary
Details
- Canada
The prohibitions are mandatory for businesses manufacturing, importing or selling products that fall within the regulatory definitions.
Covered organizations can include:
Manufacturers.
Importers.
Retailers.
Restaurants.
Food-service businesses.
Distributors.
Packaging suppliers.
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What’s Required
1. Prohibition on specified single-use plastics
Businesses must not manufacture, import, or sell prohibited products that fall within the regulatory definitions.
The six categories are:
Single-use plastic checkout bags.
Single-use plastic cutlery.
Certain single-use plastic foodservice ware.
Single-use plastic ring carriers.
Single-use plastic stir sticks.
Single-use plastic straws.
2. Foodservice ware restrictions
The regulations cover certain foodservice products manufactured from or containing problematic plastics.
Companies must assess:
Material composition.
Product design.
Intended use.
Whether the item meets the regulatory definition.
Whether an exemption applies.
3. Accessibility exception for flexible straws
Flexible single-use plastic straws remain permitted in certain circumstances so that people who require them for accessibility or medical reasons can continue to obtain them.
4. Recordkeeping
Businesses subject to applicable recordkeeping provisions must maintain supporting documentation in Canada for at least five years.
Relevant records can include information about:
Product manufacture.
Imports.
Exports.
Sales.
Quantities.
Product characteristics.
5. Supply-chain controls
Manufacturers, importers and sellers should identify prohibited products and communicate requirements through their supply chains.
Environment and Climate Change Canada specifically advises manufacturers, importers and sellers to inform customers or suppliers of relevant prohibitions.
Important Deadlines
The regulations were implemented in phases.
June 2022: The final Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations were published.
December 2022: Initial prohibitions on manufacture and import began for several product categories.
December 2023: Sale prohibitions for several categories followed the earlier manufacturing and import restrictions.
June 2024: Ring carrier restrictions completed another stage of implementation.
December 20, 2025: The prohibition covering manufacture, import and sale for export purposes entered into force under the original regulatory structure. In late 2025, the government subsequently consulted on proposed amendments that would allow exports again.
January 30, 2026: The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the federal legal basis underpinning the regulations, meaning the SUPPR remained in force.
Current Status
Active and legally binding.
As of September 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada states that the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations remain in force.
The January 2026 Federal Court of Appeal decision upheld the listing of plastic manufactured items under Schedule 1 of CEPA, preserving the legal authority supporting the regulations.
A separate consultation on potential amendments concerning exports closed in February 2026, so businesses involved in exports should monitor the outcome of that process.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Because the regulations are made under CEPA, violations can lead to federal environmental enforcement measures.
Depending on the circumstances, consequences may include:
Warnings.
Enforcement orders.
Administrative or judicial action.
Fines.
Prosecution for serious breaches.
Requirements to correct non-compliance.
Exact penalties depend on the applicable CEPA provisions and characteristics of the offense.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Typical compliance failures can include:
Importing prohibited plastic checkout bags.
Continuing to sell prohibited cutlery.
Supplying foodservice ware containing prohibited problematic plastics.
Incorrectly assuming that a product is exempt because it is labeled biodegradable.
Failing to distinguish permitted flexible straws from prohibited straws.
Missing required records.
Failing to retain records for five years.
Incorrectly classifying a product outside the regulatory definitions.
Failing to inform overseas suppliers about Canadian restrictions.
Replacing prohibited plastics with alternatives that create comparable environmental impacts.
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