With the first reporting deadline fast approaching, businesses required to report to Canada's Federal Plastics Registry (FPR) for Phase 1 have only one month left to submit their data. The deadline for reporting on plastics placed on the Canadian market in three categories for the 2024 calendar year is September 29, 2025. Companies within the scope of the FPR are advised to submit their reports promptly via the online platform (https://rfp-fpr.ec.gc.ca/en/) to avoid potential non-compliance risks.

What is the Federal Plastics Registry (FPR)?

The FPR is an information gathering tool established under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), via a Notice published in April 2024. It requires companies (including resin manufacturers and importers, producers of plastic products, generators of plastic waste, and service providers) to provide the Minister of the Environment with information about the lifecycle of plastics in Canada. The FPR will be a key source of information to inform and measure performance of actions to prevent plastic pollution and support the implementation and monitoring of various measures that are part of Canada's zero plastic waste agenda.

Reporting obligations are introduced in three phases: Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. Phase 1 (2025) covers plastics placed on the market in three specific product categories for the 2024 calendar year. Phase 2 (2026) and Phase 3 (2027) will cover reporting for the preceding calendar years and will gradually expand to include additional product categories and waste management activities.

Reporting to the FPR is mandatory. Persons who meet reporting requirements but fail to report, fail to report on time, or knowingly submit false or misleading information, are subject to penalties. These penalties include fines, ranging from a maximum of $25,000 for an individual convicted following summary proceedings to a maximum of $500,000 for a large corporation convicted on indictment. The maximum fines are double for second or subsequent offences.

What Does Phase 1 Require?

Phase 1 focuses on reporting by producers of plastic packaging, electronic and electrical equipment, and single-use or disposable products. Only products that typically enter the household waste stream need to be reported in this phase.

The report must include information on the resin type, resin source, the methods used to determine quantity, the quantity of plastic (kg) imported into Canada, the quantity of plastic (kg) manufactured in Canada, and the quantity of plastic placed on the market in each province or territory.

Certain exemptions and exclusions apply for Phase 1. Reporting is not required for products destined for industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) waste streams, or for construction, demolition, or renovation waste streams. Companies are also exempt from reporting plastic waste generated on ICI premises, as well as reporting by those who import, manufacture, or place resins on the market. Additionally, businesses that handle less than 1,000 kg of plastic products or packaging per year are not required to submit a report.

Businesses are encouraged to review the official Guide for Reporting to the Federal Plastics Registry – Phase 1 for detailed instructions on reporting, calculation methods, and tools to determine whether reporting is required.