The term “microplastic” identifies all the particles with a dimension lower than 5 mm, composed by plastic polimer that  can’t be (bio)degradated.

The microplastics represent a serious environmental and health problem because when released into the sea they became part of the trophic chain and consumers can ingest them.

ECHA drafted in 2018 a specific proposal for the restriction of intentional use in many industrial sectors as detergents, fertilizers, construction and oil&gas materials. The documents are available at this link (https://echa.europa.eu/it/registry-of-restriction-intentions/-/dislist/details/0b0236e18244cd73).

At the end of the evaluation procedure (by 2020) the industries can’t put on the market products containing microplastic as defined by the REACH restriction.