Ottawa-A proposed Federal Plastics Registry could become an administrative burden and impose additional costs for produce producers, says the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC).

The Registry was announced by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault at the end of December and consultations are to be held this year on setting it up to reduce plastic pollution in Canada.

While acknowledging the importance of tackling plastic pollution, FVGC said the Registry’s requirements could be added to the reporting burden of existing provincial data systems.

Guilbeault wants a tool to monitor and track plastic from the time it is produced to its end of life as part of federal efforts to reduce plastic pollution and waste.

The Registry would require producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how that plastic moves through the economy and how it is managed at end of life to help monitor plastic in the economy over time. The government would use this information to measure progress toward zero plastic waste and to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

FVGC said growers “are already required to report to provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems. The introduction of a federal registry, unless it is carefully designed to align with or streamline these existing obligations, could result in unnecessary and burdensome duplication of effort.”

Any new reporting requirements should be justified and offer tangible benefits to the industry, FVGC said. This could include providing improved guidance for growers or creating a centralized repository of information that would be readily accessible and useful. “The establishment of a federal registry should aim to add value, rather than merely adding to the administrative load of fruit and vegetable growers.

“A more effective approach might be to focus on harmonizing the various provincial EPR reporting requirements. Such harmonization could reduce the administrative burden on growers across Canada and ensure a more unified and efficient approach to addressing plastic pollution.”

FVGC recognizes the importance of addressing plastic waste and is open to a constructive dialogue with the government to find solutions that balance environmental objectives with the operational realities of fruit and vegetable growers in Canada.

Guilbeault said the Registry would complement existing provincial reporting requirements under extended producer responsibility programs, harmonize plastics data across the country and make this information openly accessible to all Canadians and businesses through a new and modern reporting platform.

The government will work the provinces to implement a Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste and Action Plan. In 2019, Canadians threw away 4.4 million tonnes of plastic waste, only 9 percent of which was recycled.

The consultation will run until Feb. 13.

This news report was prepared for National Newswatch.