The sale of microplastics in all areas of the European Union will be gradually banned, DPA Brussels reported on September 25th. According to a new regulation by the European Commission, the sale of microplastics per se, as well as products to which microplastics have been added and which release microplastics during use, will henceforth be prohibited. The Brussels authorities have issued a notice to that effect.
The ban covers granular materials on sports facilities, cosmetics such as scrubs and glitter, as well as toys and pesticides, among others.
These measures will be implemented gradually. For example, a ban on microbeads and glitter will come into effect within 20 days, and bans on other products will come into effect over the next few years.
Microplastics are synthetic polymers that are less than 5 millimeters in diameter and difficult to degrade. These particles can accumulate in the bodies of animals, including fish and shellfish, and may therefore also find their way into human food.
The new regulations aim to prevent about 500,000 tons of microplastics from entering the environment.
The European Commission has stated that granular materials on artificial turf pitches and other sports facilities are the largest source of microplastic releases and therefore cause environmental problems. The ban grants an eight-year transition period for such facilities, thus "giving stadium owners and operators time to switch to alternatives".
It is claimed that products that are used in industrial premises or do not release microplastics during use are excluded from the ban. However, manufacturers of these products must provide instructions on how to use and dispose of the product to avoid the release of microplastics. There are also specific exemptions for pharmaceuticals, food and feed.
