US set to ban cosmetics with microbeads

Microbeads are reported to be the main contributor to plastic particle water pollution.

A new law in the US will prohibit the manufacture and sale of cosmetic products containing plastic microbeads.

Plastic microbeads, as law states, pertain to "any solid particle that is less than five millimeters in size and is intended to be used to exfoliate or cleanse the human body or any part thereof."

Rinse-off products, including toothpaste and facial scrub, are included in the nationwide ban.

The ban on the manufacturing of microbeads begins on July 1, 2017, followed by the sales ban on July 1, 2018. Production of rinse-off cosmetics that are also nonprescription drugs will be stopped starting on July 1, 2018, while distribution ban commences on July 1, 2019.

The Personal Care Products Council supports the new law, noting that a nationwide ban mitigates confusion among consumers and companies due to several states having legislations prohibiting microbead particles.