The Federal Court of Appeal has delivered a major win for the Liberal government, unanimously upholding the classification of manufactured plastic items as “toxic” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This ruling overturns a 2023 lower court decision that had previously deemed the single-use plastic ban unconstitutional.
The justices clarified that these regulations do not overstep into provincial jurisdiction, citing the clear evidence of harm plastics pose to the environment and human health. While industry stakeholders and some provinces may still appeal to the Supreme Court, the current bans on bags, straws, and cutlery remain fully in effect.
Impact on Industry: With this legal foundation secured, the federal government is expected to accelerate its environmental agenda. We anticipate renewed movement on:
- Mandated recycled content standards.
- Circular economy initiatives.
- New plastic waste regulations.
Cosmetics Alliance will continue to monitor these evolving policies and provide updates on how they affect your business.
Here is the full article from CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/appeal-court-single-use-plastics-9.7066678
