Adopted under the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan, Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 introduces a comprehensive restriction on intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM). This regulation doesn’t just impact chemical manufacturers; it affects any company placing mixtures on the EU market—from cosmetics and detergents to industrial paints and agricultural products.
As the “first-of-its-kind” broad restriction, the EU model is currently being evaluated by other jurisdictions, including the UK (UK REACH) and U.S. State regulators (California DTSC). H2 Compliance helps you manage this immediate EU requirement while future-proofing your global product portfolio.
The European Commission’s adoption of Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 marks a significant shift in chemical management. This restriction targets Intentionally Added Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPM) across all industrial and consumer sectors.
While the regulation introduces immediate bans on certain products, many industries fall under derogations—permitting continued use provided companies adhere to strict annual reporting and labeling mandates.
To determine your compliance path, you must first identify if your polymers meet the regulatory definition of a microplastic.
Physical State: Solid polymers contained in particles.
Dimensions: All dimensions less than or equal to 5mm, or fiber lengths less than or equal to 15mm.
Concentration: Present at greater than or equal to 1 g/L by weight within the particle.
Our experts help you validate your portfolio against key exclusions to avoid unnecessary restrictions:
Natural Polymers: Chemically unmodified polymers.
High Solubility: Polymers with solubility greater than or equal to 2 g/L.
Biodegradability: Polymers proven to degrade in environmental conditions.
Compliance is time-sensitive. Missing a reporting window can result in market enforcement actions.
October 2025: Mandatory information transfer (SDS updates and labeling) for industrial sites and derogated uses.
May 31, 2026: First ECHA reporting deadline for manufacturers and downstream users of SPM feedstock (pellets, flakes, and powders).
May 31, 2027: Annual reporting begins for all other derogated uses, including medicinal products and food additives.
Navigating new EU restrictions is a complex challenge that requires immediate action. H2 Compliance provides a clear roadmap to manage your synthetic polymer obligations and secure your mandatory ECHA submissions. Act now to ensure your products remain compliant and avoid the risk of market exclusion or regulatory penalties.
Navigate the complexities of Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 with strategic compliance solutions designed to maintain market access and ensure environmental accountability.
Our team specializes in the complex intersection of polymer chemistry and REACH Annex XVII restrictions. We go beyond basic consulting by providing deep technical insights into the chemical identity, morphology, and physical state of your substances. By masterfully navigating Entry 78 and its specific criteria for Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPM), we ensure that your product classifications are scientifically robust and legally defensible.
We provide a seamless compliance journey, from the initial regulatory scoping of your product portfolio to the final data submission via REACH-IT. Our end-to-end approach includes identifying applicable derogations, quantifying environmental emissions, and preparing the technical dossiers required by ECHA. By managing every stage of the process, we minimize the administrative burden on your internal teams and ensure uninterrupted market access.
Regulatory requirements are constantly shifting, particularly regarding the October 2025 information transfer mandates. We proactively monitor evolving “Instructions for Use” and disposal requirements to ensure your product labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) remain fully compliant. Our forward-looking strategy helps you anticipate future bans and reporting milestones, allowing your R&D and supply chain teams to adapt well before deadlines hit.
Yes. While the legal obligation to report falls on the EU-based importer or “placer on the market,” they cannot fulfill their ECHA reporting duties without precise data from their global suppliers. Non-EU manufacturers must provide details on polymer identity, concentration, and safe-use instructions to ensure their EU customers remain compliant and their products stay on the shelves.
Exemption requires technical evidence proving the polymer has not been chemically modified or that it meets strict biodegradability criteria. At H2 Compliance, we coordinate standardized testing—such as OECD 301—to provide the analytical data necessary to justify these exclusions to regulatory authorities.
By October 17, 2025, suppliers of most derogated products must update their labels or Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to include “Instructions for Use and Disposal.” These instructions must clearly explain to the professional or consumer how to prevent the release of microplastics into the environment during the product’s lifecycle.
A ban means the Synthetic Polymer Microparticle (SPM) can no longer be placed on the EU market, such as the 2023 ban on loose glitter. A derogated use allows the polymer to remain on the market because its use is industrial, it is contained during use, or its physical form changes (e.g., it is filmed or cured) so that no microplastics are released. However, derogated uses are subject to mandatory annual reporting to ECHA.
The May 31, 2026, deadline specifically targets manufacturers and industrial downstream users who handle microplastics in the form of pellets, flakes, or powders used as feedstock at industrial sites. This report must quantify the estimated emissions and losses that occurred during the 2025 calendar year.
Let our team of compliance experts guide you through every step of the process.
