Restriction 78 and Microplastics: First Information Obligations Take Effect on 17 October 2025
Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 requires suppliers of synthetic polymer microparticles to provide downstream information to reduce their environmental release
11 Sept 2025The countdown has begun: starting from 17 October 2025, the first information obligations under Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, which restricts the placing on the market of synthetic polymer microparticles (“microplastics”), will come into effect.
In particular, suppliers of microparticles - either as substances in their own or as components of mixtures - intended for use at industrial sites must ensure:
- the provision of instructions for use and disposal to minimize environmental release;
- the statement: “The synthetic polymer microparticles supplied is subject to conditions laid down by entry 78 of Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council”, clearly informing users that the product is subject to entry 78 of Annex XVII of REACH;
- the indication of the quantity or concentration of microplastics contained and information on the identity of the polymer.
From that date, suppliers of products referred to in paragraph 4(d) (food additives) and paragraph 5 must also provide downstream information, namely instructions for use and disposal that clearly explain to professional users and general public how to prevent microplastic releases into the environment.
The information obligations starting in October 2025 represent the first step of a European roadmap, which will introduce further requirements in the coming years, including the submission of data to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) starting in 2026.