Microplastics: EU Council approves regulation on plastic pellets

On 22nd September 2025, the European Council approved the text of the new regulation aimed at reducing microplastic pollution.

The next decisive appointment, with the final vote, is expected indicatively in the second half of October, following which the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union should take place.

Compared to the text of the first draft, some important changes have been made, including:

1. New parties involved: Economic operators operating installations in the Union for the cleaning of plastic pellet containers and tanks as well as shippers and operators, agents and masters of seagoing vessels transporting plastic pellets in freight containers (leaving or calling at a port of a Member State) will also be covered by the regulation.
   
2. Change in terms for enjoying certain simplifications: Simplifications will be provided for small, medium, and large enterprises that handle quantities not exceeding 1,500 tonnes of pellets annually and for micro-enterprises.
   
   
3. Certification requirement:
   
   
   • It will apply to medium and large enterprises that have handled plastic pellets in quantities equal to or greater than 1,500 tonnes/year at each site (the threshold has been increased from 1,000 tonnes/year);
   • The obligation is also extended to small enterprises that have handled plastic pellets in quantities equal to or greater than 1,500 tonnes/year;
   • The scope of exemptions is modified, leaving the faculty to Member States to exempt economic operators, provided that installations are subject to a permit or that an environmental management system has been prepared and implemented (specific conditions must be verified to benefit from the derogation).

There will also be new obligations concerning the transport of plastic pellets in cargo containers by sea and the obligation for non-EU carriers to appoint an authorized representative.

We now await the final vote by the European Parliament and the publication in the Official Journal of the EU.