Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 restricting synthetic polymer microparticles on their own or intentionally added to mixtures - better known as “the microplastics restriction” - starts applying on 17 October 2023.
The Commission services are working on a detailed Q&A document to help with the implementation of the new rules.
Meanwhile, we are informing stakeholders about the Commission services' current thinking on certain aspects of the application of the microplastics restriction, including to plastic glitter on its own (loose plastic glitter) and in products. The information below will be further detailed in the Q&A document, following discussions with the Member States.
Why does the Commission want to ban glitter?
The purpose of banning microplastics, which includes glitter, is to reduce the environmental pollution and risk to the environment that they cause. Plastic glitter can be replaced with more environmentally friendly glitter that, for instance, does not pollute our oceans.
Is the sale of glitter completely banned as of 17 October 2023?
No, only certain types and uses of glitter are concerned, depending on what the glitter is made of, what is used for and whether it is loose or trapped inside an object. In addition, products already on the market - e.g. products on shelves or in suppliers’ stocks - can continue being sold until stocks run out.
Composition: Only glitter made of non-biodegradable, insoluble plastic is concerned. Biodegradable, soluble, natural or inorganic glitter is not considered microplastics, so it is out of scope of the restriction and can continue being sold.
Uses: Only the sale of (non-biodegradable, insoluble) plastic glitter for uses that are not exempted or do not have a transitional period are concerned by the sale ban, for example art and crafts, toys, textiles (with certain exceptions). Glitter used in cosmetics and detergents (and for other uses benefiting from a specific transitional periods under paragraph 6 of the restriction) can continue being sold until the end of that period.
Loose plastic glitter for uses without a transitional period - such as art and crafts, toys - is banned as of 17 October 2023 (unless biodegradable or soluble or otherwise degraded). However, plastic glitter is not affected by the ban if it is contained by technical means, forms solid films (e.g. paints, certain inks) or, during end use, it is permanently incorporated in a solid matrix (e.g. glitter glue).
Articles with glitter affixed on their surface do not fall within the scope of the restriction.
More details
The microplastics restriction concerns synthetic polymer microparticles - better known as microplastics - on their own or intentionally added to mixtures. Articles are not in the scope.
Plastic glitter on its own (also called loose plastic glitter) is to be regarded as a mixture under REACH and therefore is in the scope of the restriction.
- The prohibition of placing on the market (paragraph 1 of the restriction) applies as of 17 October 2023 to microplastics - including plastic glitter, on their own or intentionally added to products, for uses for which no transitional period is set under paragraph 6 (e.g. art and crafts kits, toys, with certain exceptions, etc). However, there are exceptions that are not concerned by the restrictions
- products, including glitter, made of material that is inorganic (e.g. glass, metal), natural, biodegradable or soluble in water (out of scope because they are not regarded as microplastics)
- beads and sequins (and other decorations) intended to be threaded or sewn (articles; not in scope)
- microplastics, including plastic glitter, that contained by technical means or lose their microplastics nature when used, permanently incorporated in a solid matrix (e.g. trapped in glue, paints or certain inks, or inside solid objects) (derogated under paragraph 5)
- products that are articles under REACH
- products already on the market on 17 October 2023 (see below)
Microplastics, including plastic glitter, that are used on their own or in products for uses for which a specific transitional period is set under paragraph 6 (e.g. cosmetics, detergents) can continue being sold until the end of that transitional period. For example, loose plastic glitter used as a cosmetic product, as well as cosmetics containing glitter (or other microplastics) are granted specific transitional periods under paragraph 6 and can continue being sold until
- 16 October 2027 included, for rinse-off cosmetics (paragraph 6b)
- 16 October 2029 included, for leave-on cosmetics (paragraph 6d)
- 16 October 2035 included, for make-up, lip and nail cosmetics (paragraph 6c). Note that, from 17 October 2031 until 16 October 2035, in order to continue to be sold, make-up, lip and nail products need to bear a label indicating they contain microplastics.
Finally, products containing plastic glitter or other microplastics (for uses other than those laid down in paragraph 6) that have been placed on the market before 17 October 2023 do not need to be recalled or withdrawn from the market but can continue being sold, in accordance with paragraph 16. This would be the case, for example, of finished products in distributors/importers/retailers stocks. Note however that
- if a large bag of plastic glitter (or other microplastics) is bought before 17 October 2023 but is repackaged into a new product (such as a smaller pack), the new product needs to be placed on the market before 17 October to continue to be sold.
- in order to benefit from the derogation in paragraph 16 of the restriction and continue to be sold, imported products not benefiting from a transitional period under paragraph 6 (e.g. art and craft kits, toys) need to arrive on the customs territory of the EU before 17 October 2023.
Please note the views expressed on this page were developed by the Commission technical services and have not been adopted or endorsed by the European Commission. They are not legally binding, and only the Court of Justice of the European Union can provide an authoritative interpretation of EU law. Operators remain responsible for their own compliance with the restriction.