. 2020 Oct 21;11:5324. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19069-1

Table 1.

Examples of current regulations for polymers, additives and primary microplastics around the globe.

	EU	US	China	South Korea
Regulation of polymer, including functional polymers and solid plastics	Exempted from REACH due to low bioavailability	Polymers that fulfill the polymer of low concern criteria (PLC) are exempted from TSCA-submission of Pre-Manufacturing Notice, and can be commercialized	Apply new substance notification for import and manufacture if non-IECSC listed. The concept on Polymers of low concern is applied for simplified notification	Since 2019: K-REACH registration started, tiered approach based on tonnage when manufactured or imported
Regulation of additives	REACH, if >1 ton manufactured or imported	Additives are chemical substance which are subject to TSCA	Apply new substance notification for import and manufacture if non-IECSC listed	K-REACH registration, tiered approach based on tonnage when manufactured or imported
Regulation of primary solid microplastics	Proposed REACH restriction, potentially from 2022: banned if dispersed in environment labeling & reporting if used only industrially and/or losing particle nature in application biodegradable, or natural, or soluble polymers exempted	Use as scrubbing beads in cosmetics are banned on federal level (“ Microbead Free Waters Act”).Additional regulation(s) at state level is established or under way	General plan to prohibit “Microplastic” manufacturing after 31 Dec. 2020, and for sale after 31 Dec. 2022	Cosmetics Act prohibits scrubbing beads in cosmetics. Further microplastics issues are under discussion for polymer types linked to pollution via waste

China

South Korea

Regulation of polymer, including functional polymers and solid plastics

Exempted from REACH due to low bioavailability

Polymers that fulfill the polymer of low concern criteria (PLC) are exempted from TSCA-submission of Pre-Manufacturing Notice, and can be commercialized

Apply new substance notification for import and manufacture if non-IECSC listed.

The concept on Polymers of low concern is applied for simplified notification

Since 2019:

K-REACH registration started, tiered approach based on tonnage when manufactured or imported

Regulation of additives

REACH, if >1 ton manufactured or imported

Additives are chemical substance which are subject to TSCA

Apply new substance notification for import and manufacture if non-IECSC listed

K-REACH registration, tiered approach based on tonnage when manufactured or imported

Regulation of primary solid microplastics

Proposed REACH restriction, potentially from 2022:

banned if dispersed in environment

labeling & reporting if used only industrially and/or losing particle nature in application

biodegradable, or natural, or soluble polymers exempted

Use as scrubbing beads in cosmetics are banned on federal level (“ Microbead Free Waters Act”).Additional regulation(s) at state level is established or under way

General plan to prohibit “Microplastic” manufacturing after 31 Dec. 2020, and for sale after 31 Dec. 2022

Cosmetics Act prohibits scrubbing beads in cosmetics.

Further microplastics issues are under discussion for polymer types linked to pollution via waste

REACH Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, TSCA Toxic Substances Control Act, IECSC Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances in China, K-REACH Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals in South Korea.