Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU Council introduces regulations to reduce plastic pellet loss, improve handling, and enforce transport standards.
The European Council has assumed its position called general approach on a regulation on containing the loss of plastic pellets to the environment. Plastic pellets are the industrial raw materials utilised to develop plastic products. It is assessed that around 52140 to 184290 tonnes of pellets were lost to the environment in the European Union in 2019. The phenomenon can happen at various phases along the value chain.
How will the EU’s new regulations reduce plastic loss?
As reported by the EU Council, the new regulations will allow to enhance the handling of plastic pellets at all phases of the supply chain. The endeavour could decrease plastic losses to the atmosphere by up to 74%. It will also encourage a level playing field between European Unoon and non-EU carriers and raise obligations for sea-going ships transporting plastic pellets, in line with the guidance of the International Maritime Organization.
According to the EU Council, this regulation involves economic operators operating plastic pellets in quantities exceeding 5 tonnes in the European Union, EU and non-EU carriers hauling plastic pellets in the European Union, businesses in charge of cleaning plastic pellet receptacles and tanks and operators, shippers, agents and masters of sea-going ships when exiting or calling at a port of a member nation.
According to the Council’s general approach, both European Union and non-EU carriers will have to notify authorities regarding their establishment and their engagement in the transport of plastic pellets. To ensure adherence to these commitments and a level playing field, the Council has submitted an obligation for non-EU carriers to appoint an authorised agent in the EU.
Moreover, the EU Council has raised specific obligations regarding the transport of plastic pellets by sea, including assuring adequate quality packaging and delivering cargo-related and other technical details. According to the new regulations, national authorities will have to perform environmental assessments and take other verification steps as a component of a risk-based system.
