Chemicals: EC Updates Guide on Restricting Intentional Microplastics in Products

On March 31, 2025, the European Commission released an updated Explanatory Guide to help stakeholders and EU countries implement the new rules provided by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 restricting synthetic polymer microparticles on their own or intentionally added to mixtures — better known as “the microplastics restriction.”

This Guide consists of the following:

• Part I: A narrative part that describes the terms, provisions and the intended implementation of the restriction in simple terms
• Part II: A set of questions and answers to EU countries’ and stakeholders’ questions
• Part III: Annexes (with decision trees and examples of borderline cases)

The guidelines contain the following information:

• Decision trees to determine whether a particle is microplastic (composition, degradability, size)
• Borderline cases (e.g. thermoplastic polymer sands for 3D printing, polymer-coated fertilizer pellets, solid-matrix glitter inks)
• Details on repeals due to “technical containment”— a mixture will be admitted if the release is < 7 ppm, verification by mass balance and leaching test
• Clarifications on instructions for use and disposal (IFUD) requirements applicable to certain products that were exempted from October 17, 2025

Future versions of the Guide will be developed and published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Official source