Since EU member states, including Sweden, gave the go-ahead for a ban this spring, the EU Commission has now taken the formal decision to stop a large number of microplastics.
“Today’s decision concerns very small particles, but is a big step towards reducing human-induced pollution,” said EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius in a statement after Monday’s decision.
The first measures will come into force in as early as 20 days, although long transition periods apply in a number of areas. For example, the sports pitches have eight years to replace the rubber granules.