Export Ban Removed for Six Single‑Use Plastics

Summary#

This is a proposed change, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 20, 2025, that would remove the ban on making, bringing into Canada, or selling six kinds of single‑use plastics when those items are meant to be exported. The domestic bans on those items for use inside Canada would stay in place, and exporters would still need to keep proof that items were exported for 5 years.

What it does#

• Removes the prohibition on manufacture, import and sale for the purpose of export for the six categories covered by the Single‑use Plastics Prohibition Regulations: checkout bags, cutlery, certain foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics, ring carriers, stir sticks and straws (with existing exceptions for access needs).
• Keeps the existing domestic market prohibitions that already prevent these items from being sold or supplied for use inside Canada.
• Keeps the record‑keeping rule that anyone manufacturing, importing or selling these items for export must keep proof of export (example: invoice, bill of lading) for 5 years and make it available to the Department on request.
• Clarifies that this is a proposal (not yet law). The Canada Gazette notice opens a public comment window of 70 days and a separate objection process with a 60‑day deadline for requesting a board of review.

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers and exporters of the six single‑use plastic items, including businesses that currently make these items for foreign markets. The government identified 112 potentially affected manufacturers; an internet scan suggested up to 49 may still have capacity for these products.
• Small businesses: about 82% of those 49 firms appear to be small businesses under federal policy definitions.
• Importers that bring these items into Canada to be re‑exported or to be attached to other exported goods (for example, a straw attached to an exported beverage product).
• Workers in affected plants and facilities whose jobs are tied to the export lines.
• Environmental organizations and members of the public interested in plastic pollution; some ENGOs want delays rather than repeal.
• Indigenous peoples: earlier engagement on the broader regulations raised concerns about plastic pollution in Indigenous communities, but no specific concerns about export prohibitions were reported and no treaty impacts were identified in the RIAS.

Why it matters#

• Economic: repealing the export ban would let Canadian firms sell these products abroad again. The government says that change could help protect existing production, investment and jobs in the plastics manufacturing sector (the sector reported about $35 billion in revenue and 85,000 jobs in 2023, with $14.9 billion of plastics exports that year and 94% headed to the United States).
• Small administrative cost: keeping and producing export records is expected to be modest. The RIAS estimates an incremental administrative cost of about $27,303 over 10 years, or roughly $939 per year in total (about $36 per affected business on average).
• Environmental effect: the government’s analysis says removing the export ban would not change the amount of plastic pollution expected inside or outside Canada because global demand would be met by other suppliers if Canada did not export. Some environmental groups disagree and worry this could weaken Canada’s international ambition on plastics.
• Process: this is a proposed amendment. The public can comment during the formal consultation period before any final decision is made.