NGOs Position for an Impactful Restriction of Microplastics
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Civil society organisations across multiple sectors, in this position paper, reiterate their support to the restriction of all intentionally added microplastics irrespective of their use or sector under REACH, as proposed by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). Once released in the environment, microplastics are practically impossible to remove, and are expected to be present in the environment for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years.
While the position paper strongly support the approach taken by ECHA to prevent over 400 000 tonnes of microplastics to be added to the EU environment, the current proposal includes very broad and problematic derogations regarding allegedly biodegradable microplastics and unduly long transitional periods. Such derogation and delays will considerably undermine the ability of the restriction to achieve its objective and should therefore be rejected.