ECHA (European Chemical Agency) has launched a public consultation on “a restriction on intentionally added microplastics”. The consultation particularly targets industry, open to 20th September 2019 (but contributions on certain topics should preferably be submitted at intermediate dates before this deadline). A key aspect of the consultation is a proposed definition of microplastics: “intentionally added” to a substance or mixture at > 0.01% w/w and present as a solid, non-biodegradable, “polymer-containing” particles, to which additives or other substances may have been added; 1% or more of particles have size 1nm – 5mm (or length 3nm – 15mm for fibres). The consultation specifically addresses the definition and testing of biodegradability of such polymers, the definition of “intentionally added” and presence of microplastics as “impurities”, uses of microplastics in different sectors (from agriculture to 3D-printing) and identification of other uses.
ECHA consultation on microplastics, open to 20th September 2019 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/echa-public-consultation-restriction-dossier-microplastics-intentionally-added-products_en