Call for evidence on microplastics: concerns and recommendations

The document expresses concern that ECHA is favouring industry interests over scientific evidence of environmental and health risks in its approach to restricting microplastics. The authors argue that ECHA's call for evidence discouraged the submission of risk data and erroneously suggested that a lack of demonstrated risk or a lack of alternatives automatically justifies derogations from restrictions.

• The authors claim ECHA lacked objectivity in its call for evidence by focusing on preventing the inadvertent restriction of industry uses while failing to emphasize the need for evidence regarding the full extent of harmful impacts on public health and the environment.
• ECHA's 'list of information to be collected' specifically requested data on uses, alternatives, and socio-economic impacts, but did not request data on the hazards and risks of microplastics.
• The authors argue that ECHA is misinterpreting REACH by suggesting that a derogation is justified if a risk 'cannot be demonstrated' for a specific use, which they claim ignores the precautionary principle.
• The document asserts that ECHA erroneously believes that the absence of technically or economically feasible alternatives automatically justifies a derogation from a restriction.

APA

ClientEarth (2018). Call for evidence on microplastics: concerns and recommendations. https://www.clientearth.org/media/j0ljw21d/european-chemicals-agency-favouring-microplastics-industry-opinion-over-scientific-evidence-of-environmental-damage-coll-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Call for evidence on microplastics: concerns and recommendations. 2018. https://www.clientearth.org/media/j0ljw21d/european-chemicals-agency-favouring-microplastics-industry-opinion-over-scientific-evidence-of-environmental-damage-coll-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Call for evidence on microplastics: concerns and recommendations |date=5 June 2018 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/j0ljw21d/european-chemicals-agency-favouring-microplastics-industry-opinion-over-scientific-evidence-of-environmental-damage-coll-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2018call, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Call for evidence on microplastics: concerns and recommendations}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2018}, month = jun, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/j0ljw21d/european-chemicals-agency-favouring-microplastics-industry-opinion-over-scientific-evidence-of-environmental-damage-coll-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }