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Preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution

TA-9-2024-0307 · P9_TA(2024)0307 · PE757.117

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Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution. It sets obligations for handling plastic pellets across the supply chain to achieve zero losses, including risk assessments, certifications, and penalties.

Key points

  1. Applies to economic operators handling over 5 tonnes of plastic pellets annually and to EU and non-EU carriers transporting them in the Union.
  2. Requires economic operators to establish risk assessment plans, install equipment, and notify competent authorities with self-declarations of conformity.
  3. Mandates certification for large, medium, and small enterprises handling over 1,000 tonnes, with certificates valid for 3 to 5 years depending on size.
  4. Requires carriers to implement prevention, containment, and clean-up actions during loading, transport, and cleaning, including specific measures for maritime and inland waterway transport.
  5. Obliges economic operators and carriers to train staff, keep records of losses and volumes, and take corrective actions without delay after failures.
  6. Mandates annual internal assessments for non-micro or small enterprises handling over 1,000 tonnes, covering loss causes and equipment effectiveness.
  7. Requires immediate notification of significant incidents or accidents to competent authorities, with measures to contain and clean up losses.
  8. Empowers competent authorities to inspect, suspend operations in case of immediate danger, and require corrective measures for non-compliance.
  9. Sets penalties including fines of at least 3% of annual Union turnover for legal persons, with revenue to support clean-up and prevention projects.
  10. Provides for compensation claims for health damage, with burden of proof on the infringer when a causal link is presumed, and allows NGOs to bring collective actions.
  11. Requires the Commission to develop a standardised methodology for estimating losses and to report on chemical traceability of plastic pellets within 24 months.

Who is affected

  • Economic operators handling plastic pellets in the Union, including manufacturers, recyclers, and waste managers.
  • EU and non-EU carriers transporting plastic pellets by road, rail, or inland waterway.
  • Competent authorities in member states responsible for enforcement and inspections.
  • Certifiers, including accredited conformity assessment bodies and EMAS environmental verifiers.
  • Individuals and NGOs affected by health damage from pellet loss, who can claim compensation.

Figures and deadlines

  • 5 tonnes: threshold for economic operators covered by the regulation.
  • 1,000 tonnes: threshold for additional obligations like certification and internal assessments.
  • 3% of annual Union turnover: maximum fine for legal persons.
  • 5 years: limitation period for compensation claims.
  • 24 months: deadline for Commission report on chemical traceability.
  • 18 months: deferral of application after entry into force.

Legal basis: Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union