▪︎ CLP, REACH, SDB
Microplastic Restrictions: Industry Criticizes Short Reporting Deadlines
Although the microplastics restriction aligned with EU Regulation 2023/2055 has been in force since October 17, 2023, the associated reporting requirements are difficult to meet. Industry representatives called attention to this issue at the meeting of the competent authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL) at the beginning of July this year.
Extensive Reporting Requirements
Item 78 of Annex XVII requires manufacturers and downstream industrial users of synthetic polymer microparticles to report a range of information to the ECHA, including the identity of the polymer, how they use the polymer particles, and the amount of microplastics released. According to the European Chemical Industry Council (Conseil Européen des Fédérations de l’Industrie Chimique: Cefic) and the European Coordination Group of Downstream Users (European Downstream Users of Chemicals Coordination Group: DUCC), the reporting deadlines are almost impossible to meet.
Criticisms
- The ECHA’s guidance document, REACH Restriction on Synthetic Polymer Microparticles, was published only in April this year. Given that it contains key information, such as how to calculate the content of synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM), software providers were able to start implementation only after the announcement of these details, which further reduced the time available to the companies affected.
- All actors in the supply chain must fulfill information obligations within the same timeframe. Downstream users (DUs) are clearly at a disadvantage here, because they depend on information from their suppliers (manufacturers or importers). As of July 2025, very few suppliers had updated their information and forwarded it to the DUs.
- The effort required from all affected companies is enormous, because both safety data sheets and labels must be updated. Simply adding SPM information to the labels and affixing the labels will take several months.
Do you have questions about the microplastics problem or the safety of your products? Please contact us at sales@kft.de.