​The federal government has officially listed microbeads as a toxic substance, giving it the ability to ban the plastic beads used in cleansers. In 2014, about 100,000 kilograms of plastic microbeads in exfoliants and cleansers were imported into Canada, with up to 10,000 more kilograms used domestically in the manufacturing of personal care products. The government proposed forbidding the manufacture and import of personal care products containing microbeads by the end of 2017 and ban the sale of such products by the end of 2018. The move followed similar efforts to ban the substance in the United States and Europe. The former Conservative government announced the move to ban the tiny plastic particles last August, the day before the federal election was called.

Source: CBC News June 30, 2016 13:14 UTC