The European Commission adopted measures this Monday to restrict the sale of products to which microplastics have been intentionally added, including loose glitter, cosmetics or health products.
According to a statement from the community executive, according to the legislation that controls chemical substances in the European Union (REACH), both microplastics themselves and the products to which they have been added can no longer be sold.
This decision “will prevent the release of around half a million tons of microplastics into the environment,” the statement assesses, highlighting that “the objective is to reduce intentional emissions of microplastics from as many products as possible.”
Granules to fill synthetic sports fields – the largest source of intentional microplastics in the environment -, cosmetics in which microplastics are used for multiple purposes, detergents, fabric softeners, glitter, fertilizers, phytosanitary products, toys, medicines and medical devices, are some of the affected products.
The first measures, such as the ban on loose glitter and microbeads, will begin to apply when the restriction comes into force, in twenty days.
In other cases, the sales ban will be applied after a longer period, so that interested parties have the necessary time to develop alternatives and start using them.
Microplastics are broadly defined and encompass all synthetic polymer particles smaller than five millimeters that are organic, insoluble, and resistant to degradation.
This proposal has already been supported by the EU Council and the European Parliament.
Source: TSF
