Federal ban on microbeads update: Gov’t invites public to comment
(Photo via Lake Ontario Waterkeeper)
The Federal Government is moving forward with its plan to enact regulations to restrict the use of microbeads in personal care products. The government recently made the proposed regulations available online and invited the public to comment until March 10th, 2016. Submitting comments will help remind the decision-makers that this is an issue Canadians care about and want to see addressed properly.
The move comes in the wake of a submission from Environmental Defence, Ottawa Riverkeeper, and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, with representation by Ecojustice, recommending that microbeads be regulated by the federal government in order to protect Canadian waters.
We posted our comments on the federal government’s proposed ban on microbeads in October. As a reminder, here are our main concerns:
Microbeads come from many sources that this proposed ban ignores. “Personal care products used to cleanse or exfoliate” are not the only means by which microbeads are coming from.
Microbeads have the potential to cause great harm to human health. Microbeads have the ability to carry toxins and pathogens, transferring them to animals and human health.
Harmonizing with US regulations could do more harm than good. Mirroring American regulations on microbeads for the purpose of creating a level playing field could be dangerous since many American regulations are riddled with loopholes.
Read Waterkeeper's comments on the decision to consider adding microbeads to Schedule 1 of CEPA 1999
Environment and Climate Change Canada is holding a meeting on February 22nd to outline the rationale behind the regulations and solicit feedback from stakeholders. Waterkeeper will follow this process and will post comments on the proposed regulations following the meeting.
Want to comment on microbeads? Submit your comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada.