Legislation Banning Personal Care Products Containing Microbeads Will Go into Effect July 1st

Microbeads are tiny plastic particles that pose a major threat to the Great Lakes

Friday, June 29, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Legislation passed by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) prohibiting the sale of personal care products that contain microbeads will go into effect starting on July 1, 2018. Microbeads are tiny plastic particles that can get through water treatment facilities and harm fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes and other bodies of water.

 

“This is great news for our Great Lakes, which are so important to our economy and Michigan way of life,” said Senator Stabenow. “By implementing my law banning microbeads, we are closing the chapter on a dangerous threat to our health and our water.”

 

“This is an important step to ensure that our Great Lakes are protected for generations to come,” said Senator Peters. “Pollution from microbeads is a serious threat to the health of the Great Lakes, and our ban will help keep our wildlife and waterways safe from further harm.”

 

The Microbead-Free Waters Act, which Senators Stabenow and Peters passed into law in 2015, phased out manufacturing of products containing microbeads, such as shampoo, soaps, and facial scrubs. The law provided companies with time to make needed changes to their formulas and perform safety testing on new products. More information may be found on the Federal Drug Administration’s website here