Retailers could face hefty fine for selling microbead products
Microbeads are tiny plastic beads found in products such as face wash, hand and body cleansers, scrubs and exfoliators, toothpastes, glitter bubble bath, and some cleaning products.
Products containing plastic microbeads cannot be made or sold in New Zealand as of Thursday.
It is now illegal to manufacture or sell some products, including toothpastes, face washes, glitter bubble baths, containing the minute plastic particles.
Retailers caught ignoring the ban face a fine of up to $100,000.
Microbeads are tiny plastic beads, less than 5mm in size, used to give products texture, act as an abrasive, or provide visual interest. They are a threat to marine life, as they can be mistaken for food.
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About 100 personal care products in New Zealand contain the beads. Most are imported and sold by retailers.
According to former Environment Minister Nick Smith, it is estimated about 10,000 tonnes a year of plastic microbeads are used globally.
Research by an American science organisation found a 125ml tube of microbead face wash contained more than 360,000 beads.
Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin banned microbead products in New World, Pak 'n Save and Four Square stores from July last year.
The call to ban microbeads in personal care products began in January last year under the former National-led government. The Labour-led Government implemented the decision in December.
However, by that stage, many retailers had already taken steps to take products with microbeads off shop shelves.
FoodStuffs stopped selling all microbead products in its New World, Pak 'n Save and Four Square stores from July last year.
It also removed the beads from its own brand products, as did rival Countdown.
Plastic Diet spokesman Ben Mansfield said he applauded the Government for making the call to ban microbeads.
But he would also like to see some makeup and craft glitter products, which contain microbeads, banned as well, Mansfield said.
"There is no reason why they can't be. But the point is there are steps that need to be taken, you can't do everything at once. It's a gradual thing."
Some manufacturers and retailers would find ways around the ban, he said.
"But the thing is, even if it catches 90 per cent, that's a massive amount of plastic we are preventing from going into our eco-system."
Research by an American science organisation found a 125ml tube of microbead face wash contained more than 360,000 beads.
The Environmental Protection Authority said consumers could continue to use cleansers, toothpastes and cleaning products with beads, until they were finished.
Empty tubes should be thrown away with the household rubbish, not tipped down the sink or drain.
Banned products
- Face wash, hand and body cleansers, scrubs and exfoliators.
- Toothpastes.
- Glitter bubble bath.
- Abrasive cleaning products for the home, the car and industrial cleaning.
Not banned
- Microbeads, including glitter, in wipe-off products, such as cosmetic makeup.
- Microbeads, including glitter, sold as a craft material
- Personal hygiene products containing natural particles, such as ground nutshells, pumice or other biodegradable materials.
- Products intended for medical use.
- Goods that are produced in, or imported into Australia, and are lawfully sold in Australia
- Stuff
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