Legislation aimed at reducing microplastic pollution in marine and fresh waters has been enacted by the Government, four months after the EU gave clearance for the move writes Lorna Siggins
The Microbeads (Prohibition) Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2020 was signed into law earlier this month by Minister for Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy and came into effect yesterday.
As Afloat reported last October, a small number of EU member states have introduced similar measures in relation to cosmetics and personal care products, Ireland has “gone further” and “extended these prohibitions to household and Industrial cleaning products”, Mr Murphy’s department says.
The Act prohibits “the manufacture or placing on the market of cosmetics and personal care products that may be washed or rinsed off with water, as well as household and industrial cleaning products, and that contain plastic microbeads”.
“Placing on the market is defined as “to sell; offer or expose for sale; advertise or invite an offer to purchase; distribute free of charge; import or export; or supply for any of those purposes (whether or not for profit)”.
The Act also makes it an offence to dispose of any substance containing microbeads by pouring it down the drain or into marine or freshwater environments.
The aim is to protect marine wildlife and the environment.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been assigned responsibility for implementing the legislation, with support from Customs officials and the Gardaí.
A person summarily convicted under the legislation could receive a Class A fine and//or a prison sentence of up to six months.
Conviction on indictment may mean a fine of up to €3,000,000 and/ or a prison sentence of up to five years.
The department said that Ireland would “continue to work” with the European Commission and other EU member states to develop “further robust regulatory measures to address microplastic pollution”.
