The Government has started seeking public opinion on the prospect of banning microbeads-found in natural health products like toothpaste and cream and non-prescription drugs as exfoliators (that remove dead cells)-after a petition filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pointed to the damage it causes to marine life and how it acts as pollutants in water systems.
The next date of hearing of the case is January 9, next year.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in a public notice issued recently said that the ban, if implemented, is bound to affect the public at large particularly the manufacturers and importers of the drugs/cosmetic containing micro-plastic (microbeads).
Hence, the DCGI GN Singh said in the circular that the stakeholders are invited to give their views and comments before the next date of hearing.
The notice followed the NGT notice to the ministries of environment, water resources, and health, asking for their comments on microbeads found in personal care products.
The notice was in response to the petition filed by lawyer Sumeer Sodhi from VSA legal who had sought a complete ban on the use of microbeads in the manufacture, import and sale of various cosmetics or personal care products.
The lawyer had also sought penalty and fine on the defaulting companies causing environmental pollution by the use/manufacturer/import/ sale of personnel care products containing the toxic material.
Microbeads are solid plastic particles. They are found in many beauty products by many leading brands.
“While people think that they nourish their skin, in reality they are found to be carcinogenic, and when disposed of, can destroy biodiversity. They impact ground water, lakes, rivers and oceans. They clog sewers and destroy city infrastructure,” says Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of Fit & Glow, which has been promoting organic, cellulose-based microbeads.
However, following a persistent protest by green activists, the microproducts are all set to be banned in UK and Canada. The US already has “Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015” that prohibits “manufacture and introduction into interstate commerce of rinse-off cosmetics containing intentionally-added plastic microbeads.”
Canada will prohibit microbeads found in natural health products and non-prescription drugs from July 1, 2019.
Similarly, the Australian government too recently called retailers to begin voluntarily removing or reformulating any products that contain the small beads of plastic, which have been found to cause damage to marine life and water systems.
The momentum against the plastic particles has been building steadily since about 2012, when Unilever became the first major multinational to commit to eliminating microbead use.