Restrictions on microplastics imposed by the European chemical legislation REACH came into force at the end of October and provide for a differentiated ban on synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM) in raw materials and products.

The enactment of the rules has spurred German trade groups to publish a German-language handbook with information and assistance on meeting requirements, with contributions coming from associations represented by German chemical industry association VCI (Frankfurt; www.vci.de), namely the construction sector’s Deutsche Bauchemie (DBC), the German adhesives association IVK, and the domestic coatings and printing inks association VdL.

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The associations said products that fall under the REACH restriction can continue to be produced, marketed, and used. For example, applications for the production of construction chemicals, sealants, adhesives, and adhesive tapes as well as paints, surface coatings and printing inks are generally subject to certain exceptions.

However, producers and downstream industrial users must provide customers with instructions for their use and disposal, in which an explanation is given of how the release of polymer microparticles into the environment can be prevented, by 17 October 2025. Furthermore, companies are obliged to send information outlined in the regulation to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA, Helsinki; http://echa.europa.eu) by 31 March 2027. After that, this step must be completed every year as of 31 May.

The handbook aims to help companies involved in the formulation of such products to clarify in good time whether they may be affected and, if required, to identify their own obligations.