Canada Mandates Plastic Products Reporting for 2024-2026

On April 20, 2024, the Canada Department of the Environment published a notice under subsection 46(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (hereafter as the Act), requiring comprehensive reporting from entities involved in the manufacturing or management of plastic resins and certain plastic products to the Federal Plastics Registry. Non-compliance with the Notice may result in penalties under the Act.

Applicable scope 

The Notice applies to plastic product producers and entities involved in plastic management after collection for diversion. It covers a wide range of plastic products and resins used in various industries, including the following categories:

• 24 identified resins and 4 resin sources;
• Plastic packaging such as beverage container, food contact material, packaging for hazardous material, and other packaging;
• Other plastic products used in sectors like electronic and electrical equipment (EEE), tires, transportation, construction, agriculture and horticulture, fishing and aquaculture, apparel and textiles, as well as single-use or disposable products.

Reporting timeline 

This Notice applies to the calendar years 2024, 2025, and 2026. Information related to the 2024 calendar year must be submitted no later than September 29, 2025. Information for the 2025 calendar year must be submitted no later than September 29, 2026. Information for the 2026 calendar year must be submitted no later than September 29, 2027.

Required information and submission 

Affected stakeholders are required to provide the specified information outlined in Schedule 4 of this Notice. The information can be submitted through the online portal provided by the Federal Plastics Registry by stakeholders themselves or through authorization for another person or a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to submit on their behalf.

Schedule 4 of this Notice specifies all required information based on different situations: (1) administrative information, such as contact details of the person or organization; (2) product information, such as the resin types and sources involved, total quantity, and determination method.