If you are a manufacturer or importer of products that contain intentionally added microplastics, you need to know how this will affect your business. ????
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are less than 5 mm in size. They are widely used in various products, such as cosmetics, detergents, paints, fertilizers, and medical devices. However, they also pose a serious threat to the environment and human health, as they can accumulate in soil, water, and air, and enter the food chain. ????
To address this issue, the EU has adopted a new restriction of intentionally added microplastics under the REACH Regulation. The restriction will apply from 1 January 2024 and will gradually phase out the use of microplastics in different product categories over a period of 2 to 10 years. ????
Who will be affected?
This measure will affect many sectors and products, such as:
Cosmetics and personal care products: rinse-off and leave-on products.
Detergents and maintenance products ????
Paints and coatings ????
Fertilizers and plant protection products????
Medical devices ????
Additional obligations on manufacturers and importers of products that contain intentionally added microplastics, including:
Submitting a notification to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) before placing the product on the market. ????
Providing information on the content and characteristics of microplastics in the product to downstream users and consumers. ????
Labelling the product with a warning that it contains plastics that are harmful to the environment. ⚠️
This restriction is expected to reduce the release of microplastics into the environment by about 500,000 tonnes over 20 years. And it will benefit the environment, human health, and society as a whole. ???? Microplastics – ECHA (europa.eu).
For more advice and guidance on this new EU directive and how it will impact on your business, get in touch with one of our friendly consultants today.
