Following a provisional agreement with the European Parliament, the Council adopted the regulation on 22 September.

According to the Council, the European Parliament is expected to hold its final vote on the regulation on the prevention of plastic pellet loss in October 2025. The new rules will then enter into force 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal of the EU. In a statement, the Council points out that, apart from specific derogations and exemptions, most of the provisions of the regulation will apply two years after its entry into force.
 
The regulation on the prevention of plastic pellet loss aims to reduce microplastic emissions into the environment by strengthening the control and management of plastic pellets throughout the supply chain. One of the most important elements of the regulation relating to the prevention of pellet loss is the obligation for companies to implement risk management plans that include measures for packaging, handling, personnel, training and equipment. The regulation also sets out obligations for clean-up operations in the event of spills. Operators handling more than 1,500 tonnes of plastic pellets per year must obtain certification from an independent third party in accordance with the regulation. Smaller companies are subject to simplified compliance measures, including self-declarations of compliance for micro-enterprises. In addition, the regulation introduces specific requirements for the transport of plastic pellets by sea, relating to packaging, transport and cargo information, in order to prevent pellet loss at sea.

 
Sources:

• EU Council press release (22.9.2025)
• Photo: © European Union