BAN ON MICROBEADS

That this House notes with concern the biological and toxicological harm caused by microbeads, tiny plastic particles used as exfoliating agents in a variety of cosmetic products such as scrubs, soaps and toothpaste; further notes that in the US a ban on microbeads in cosmetic and personal care products will be in place by April 2017; considers the Government's plan to work with the cosmetics industry towards a voluntary phase-out by 2020 to be inadequate given that non-plastic, environmentally-friendly alternatives to microbeads are readily available now; and calls on the Government to follow the example of the US administration, and work with EU partners to introduce an EU-­wide ban without delay.