EU Proposal For Regulation On Microplastics

The European Commission has released a proposal in October for a regulation on preventing pellet loss to reduce microplastic pollution.

This will need to go through the normal legislative programme (EU parliament and Council) but an expected entry into force would be the second half of 2024.

The regulation would set:

• a general framework for preventive and mitigating measures (equipment and procedures) for preventing pellet loss;
• a notification system for SMEs (small, micro and medium handling less than 1000 T) for which Member States will be in charge of setting up national registers;
• a mandatory certification for large and medium companies (issued certificate every 3 years for large and only every 4 years for medium)

Although this would not be in force in GB it would affect Northern Ireland and could also set a precedent for regulation in GB.

We therefore urge members to sign up to Operation Clean Sweep (OCS). 

OCS is an international initiative from the plastics industry to reduce plastic pellet loss, flake or powder into the environment. In the UK, it is led by us, the British Plastics Federation (BPF). By signing up, companies make a commitment to adhere to best practice and implement systems to prevent plastic pellet loss — and that they will play their part in protecting the aquatic environment 🌎