The European Union (EU) has recently adopted a restriction regulating Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPMs) intentionally added to products under the EU chemical legislation REACH.
Entry 78 of Annex XVII REACH: https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/a5eaa862-fa4d-2e18-f5a5-3bda98e09ee7
The aim of this restriction is to prevent the release of SPMs into the environment .
This restriction prohibits the sale of SPMs as such, as well as of products to which SPMs have been intentionally added. Where justified, derogations apply to users of SPMs affected by these new rules.
Although derogations for SPMs users exist, reporting obligations to both clients and authorities are still required.
European Commission published Explanatory Guide
The purpose of the Explanatory Guide is to explain the provisions and facilitate the implementation of entry 78 of Annex XVII of REACH (as introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055) restricting synthetic polymer microparticles (commonly known as “the microplastics restriction”).
The document includes a narrative part (Part I), a set of ‘questions and answers’ (Q&As) (Part II) and several Annexes (Part III) with workflows and illustrative examples.
Part II compiles responses (in the form of Q&As) provided to Member States and stakeholders during the 5 ½ year-long process leading up to the adoption of the restriction on 25 September 2023, as well as the 3 months following its adoption.
The document was prepared by the Commission´s technical services in consultation with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the Member States. As such, it does not necessarily represent the views of the European Commission.
It has been endorsed by Member States by consensus, except on the issue of whether the articles with glitter affixed on their surface fall within the scope of the restriction (see Part I, Section 5; Part II, Q&A 2.25, 17.2, 17.6, 17.7, 17.8, 19.1, 19.3; Part III, Annex 3, A3.3), where AT, BE, DE and NL expressed the position that the restriction applies to glitter not permanently affixed on the surface of articles.
Explanatory Guide: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/circabc-ewpp/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/a4b3c599-db77-4210-8ca1-430e88c59bb1/file.bin
Ekotox Chemicals Management webpages: https://ekotox.eu/chemicals-management/
REACH Conference 2025: https://ekotoxtraining.com/events/reach-conference-2025/
