The Canadian government has set out to be the first country in North and South America to ban microbeads in beauty and skin care products.
Since last week, microbeads are now officially listed as a toxic substance and governed under greater regulation following the Canadian government’s move to publish an order as part of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
Microbeads are most commonly found in facial and body scrubs as an exfoliant but mounting evidence has shown that this non-biodegradable material has been polluting bodies of water throughout North America.
Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Canada’s Minister of Labour and Minister on the Status of Women said in an official statement, “Bannin microbeads from personal care products will help us to continue protecting the environment for present and future generations. We will continue to take action to keep Canada’s lakes and rovers clean, and put the priorities of Canadians first.”
The next step for he Canadian government is to ban microbeads by passing regulations that would forbid the manufacture, import and sales of any personal care product containing the plastic.
