Taiwan News
Date: 2018/06/19
By: Central News Agency
TAIPEI (CNA) – The production and import of personal care products containing
Taiwan to crack down on microbeads (photo courtesy of Pixabay).
plastic microbeads will be banned nationwide effective July 1, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said Tuesday.
The ban, which follows similar measures carried out in a number of countries, including the United States and France, will be imposed on six major products, including shampoo, shower gel, soap, facial cleanser, scrubbing cream and toothpaste, according to the environmental administration.
The new initiative is intended to enhance environmental protection, and retailers caught violating the rule will be subject to fines of NT$1,200-NT$6,000 (US$198.34), with all products containing microbeads confiscated.
Microbeads are widely regarded by researchers as a major water pollutant, able to pass unfiltered through sewage treatment plants and make their way into rivers and canals to cause plastic particle pollution. [FULL STORY]
