REACH: EU Bans Microplastics

Oct. 5 2023

On 27 September 2023 the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 to amend Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation. This Regulation restricts microplastics on their own and in mixtures and shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all EU Member States.

On 27 September 2023 the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 in the Official Journal of the European Union. By this, a new entry 78 of REACH Annex XVII is introduced. The restriction will apply for synthetic polymers microparticles (microplastic), on their own or in mixtures, placed on the market on or after 17 October 2023. Later applications apply for some specific products, such as some cosmetic products, some detergents, or granular infill for use on synthetic sports surfaces.

The requirement prohibits the sale of microplastics as such and of products to which microplastics have been intentionally added and that release those microplastics when used. Common examples include cosmetics, detergents, and infill material for artificial sport surfaces containing microplastics. Products used at industrial sites or not releasing microplastics during use are derogated from the ban, but their manufacturers will have to provide instructions on how to use and dispose the products to prevent microplastics emissions and report the estimated microplastics emissions every year.

The concentration limit of microplastics in mixtures is 0,01 % by weight.

Synthetic polymer microparticles are solid polymers with equal or less than 5mm in all dimensions or the length of the particles is equal or less than 15 mm and their length to diameter ratio is greater than 3.

Natural polymers, polymers that are degradable, polymers that are water soluble, and polymers that do not contain carbon atoms are excluded from the restriction.

Apart of this, some products are out of the scope of this Regulation, such as:
• Products that contain microplastics but do not release them,
• Products that contain microplastics which are permanently incorporated into solid matrix,
• Products used at industrial sites,
• Products already regulated by other EU legislation, e.g., medicinal products, food and feed.

Additional Information
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055: EUR-Lex - 32023R2055 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)

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