California's Microplastics Proposal: Impacts On The Consumer Products Supply Chain

Highlights

• California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has proposed listing microplastics as "Candidate Chemicals" under the Safer Consumer Products Program, marking a turning point in regulating broad material categories rather than specific compounds. A listing could trigger DTSC to evaluate whether microplastics are present within specific consumer product categories, which could lead to specific consumer products being characterized as "Priority Products" for regulation. If a consumer product is designated as a Priority Product, manufacturers of those products would be required to notify DTSC that microplastics are in their products, conduct an Alternatives Analysis and implement regulatory responses such as reformulation, disclosure, use restrictions or product redesign.