On September 27, 2023, the Official Journal of the European Union published Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, amending REACH Regulation (EC) No.1907/2006 to add entry 78 regarding restrictions on synthetic polymer microparticles (Microplastics). The amended regulation came into force on October 17, 2023. The main restriction requirements are as follows: Shall not be placed on the market on their own or, where the synthetic polymer microparticles are present to confer a sought-after characteristic, in mixtures in a concentration equal to or greater than 0,01 % by weight.
Microplastics Recall Case Sharing
In February 2025, the EU RAPEX system reported three cases involving excessive microplastic content. Details are as follows:
| Alert No. | Notifying Country | Product Category | Product | Country of Origin | Reason for Recall | Actions Taken |
| SR/00712/25 SR/00710/25 SR/00704/25 | Croatia | Toy | 2 Children’s nail/tattoo set 1 Children’s nail/tattoo set | Hong Kong, China | All three products contain microplastics with up to 95% PET content. | Sales banned and products destroyed |
Official Release of the Microplastics Explanatory Guidance Document
On March 31, 2025, the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) jointly released the explanatory guidance on the microplastic restriction, aiming to help companies assess product compliance and provide implementation advice.
The guidance consists of three parts:
- Part I explains the restriction requirements and implementation in plain language;
- Part II is a Q&A section addressing common questions from member states and stakeholders;
- Part III contains annexes, including decision trees and examples of borderline cases.
Source of the Guidance：https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/chemicals/reach/restrictions/commission-regulation-eu-20232055-restriction-microplastics-intentionally-added-products_en
CMA Testing Reminder | Compliance Action Recommendations
- Companies should closely monitor regulatory updates and recall cases, accurately understand the requirements, comprehensively review product formulations and technical data, and use the guidance to determine if products fall within the restriction scope.
- If microplastics are unavoidable, risks can be mitigated through exemptions by understanding raw material composition and assessing solubility and biodegradability.
- If internal capabilities are insufficient, seeking professional assistance promptly is recommended.
