The proposal concerns intentionally added microplastics. It focuses on products which release the plastic particles to the environment directly or via public wastewater treatment plants. These include cosmetic products (e.g. facial scrubs) and household cleaners (e.g. scouring agents), which are rinsed off during or after use and are disposed of down the drain. The rationale behind it is to reduce the release of poorly biodegradable microplastics into the environment because they are absorbed by organisms and can enter the human food chain. The restriction proposal therefore also forms part of the "EU strategy for plastics (2018)". Some Member States have ...