Explanatory note
This note is not part of the regulations, but is intended to indicate their general effect.
These regulations, which come into force 6 months after the date of their notification in the Gazette, are made under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. These regulations prohibit the manufacture and sale of wash-off products (other than medical devices or medicines) that contain microbeads for 1 or more of the following purposes:
exfoliation of all or part of a person’s body:
cleaning of all or part of a person’s body:
abrasive cleaning of any area, surface, or thing:
visual appearance of the product.
Section 65 of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 provides that a person who knowingly contravenes these regulations commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000.
Regulatory impact assessment
The Ministry for the Environment produced a regulatory impact assessment in August 2017 to help inform the decisions taken by the Government relating to the contents of this instrument.
A copy of this regulatory impact assessment can be found at—
Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2012.
Date of notification in Gazette: 7 December 2017.
These regulations are administered by the Ministry for the Environment.