France: ban of plastic microbeads in cosmetics in 2018

By publishing the the Decree in the Official Journal of the French Republic dated March 8, 2017, the implementation of the law is official. The decree confirms that cosmetics containing solid plastic particles will be prohibited to be placed on the French market from the 1st of January 2018.

France passed the ban in summer 2016 in a law on biodiversity protection and was the first country worldwide to ban also plastic cups and dishes till January 1rst, 2020, in order to reduce the pollution of the environment and the oceans. The prohibition on plastic bags began in July 2016.

There is no obligation to withdraw cosmetic products that are placed on the market before 1st of January 2018.