The Enterprise Europe Network informs:
11/07/2023
The EU is limiting environmental pollution caused by microplastics. New rules will ban the sale of microplastics in future, as well as products to which microplastics have been added and which release them during use. Common products include cosmetics, detergents and infill material for artificial turf pitches. Products that are used at industrial sites or do not release microplastics during use are exempt from the sales ban. In most cases, the sales ban will only apply after a transitional period in order to give all affected stakeholders time to adapt to the new rules and find suitable alternatives.
The EU Commission's proposal is based on the findings of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The new regulation applies to all synthetic polymer particles with a diameter of less than five millimetres that are not easily degradable in the environment. The aim is to reduce emissions of intentionally used microplastics from as many products as possible.
- Sports surfaces: The granules used on artificial turf pitches are the largest source of the release of deliberately added microplastics into the environment. The ban applies after eight years to give owners and operators of sports pitches time to switch to alternatives.
- Cosmetics: Microplastics are used in cosmetics for a variety of purposes, such as in face masks or to achieve a specific texture, fragrance or color. For cosmetics with certain microbeads that act on the skin for a longer period of time, such as exfoliating creams, the ban will come into force from mid-October. For other cosmetics, a transitional period of four to twelve years applies.
- Chemical products: Microplastics are deliberately added to a range of goods, including household and industrial cleaners, pesticides, artificial fertilizers or paints. To give manufacturers time to develop alternative solutions, transitional periods apply to the restrictions, such as five years for detergents or eight years for fertilizers.
Goods that do not release the added microparticles or only release them in minimal quantities, such as building materials, are not affected by the ban. In addition, products that are used on industrial sites and products that are already regulated by other EU legislation, such as medicines, food and animal feed.
For more information, see here .
Source: European Commission
