TWO YEARS IN JAIL IF YOU SELL MICROBEADS
Retailers set to face tough penalties in Holyrood’s war on plastics
MANUFACTURERS and retailers could face two years in jail and a £5,000 fine if they breach a radical proposed ban on microbeads.
The Scottish Government is set to prohibit the use of microbeads in all cosmetic, beauty and personal care products from July 9 next year, in a major victory for the Daily Mail.
Ministers have published draft regulations that would see anyone found to be producing or selling items containing the tiny plastic particles face up to two years in prison. The tough penalty, which could include a £5,000 fine, has been welcomed by campaigners.
But they have urged the SNP to consider extending the ban to all products containing microbeads, including cleaning materials.
Yesterday, Calum Duncan, head of conservation in Scotland for the Marine Conservation Society, said: ‘Plastics and microplastics are causing havoc in ecosystems of the world’s oceans, which is why we have supported a ban on the use of microbeads.
‘There is simply no reason to use them, flushing them into the sea in their billions, when there are sustainable and natural alternatives.
‘We welcome the ban, having been part of
the Beat the Microbead coalition, but in Scotland and across the UK we wish it extended to all products that use them, not just personal skincare but cleaning products as well.’
Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic which can be found in everyday products such as shower gels, face scrubs and toothpaste.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced her attempt to follow the UK Government’s lead to introduce a ban on microbeads last year – and now ministers have said they intend to bring in legislation within seven months.
They have published the draft Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (Scotland) Regulations 2018, which will ‘prohibit the manufacture and sale of rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads’.
The notice indicates that anyone found guilty of breaching this will ‘be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £5,000’.
Or, it states: ‘On conviction on indictment to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding £5,000 or both.’
The draft regulations state that a single person caught manufacturing any ‘rinse-off personal care product’ which contains microbeads, or an individual who ‘supplies, offers to supply or has in possession to supply’ can be imprisoned or fined.
It also highlights that a ‘director, manager, secretary or other similar officer’ of a firm caught manufacturing or selling the products will be liable.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: ‘It is right for governments to come together to ban these tiny bits of plastic.
‘The microbeads act as a sponge attracting pollution, they last for generations, they cause real harm to animals and they end up in the food we eat. It is imperative that we act to stop their production.’
Mr Rennie added: ‘We often think of the plastic bottles and bags that pollute our environment, but the stuff we can’t see is even more dangerous. It is right this change is coming.’
The regulations would be introduced as secondary legislation and would be in line with plans for the rest of the UK – implemented at the same time. The legislation would have to go through committees at Holyrood to be scrutinised, before a vote by MSPs.
The publication of the intention to bring in regulations next summer follows a Daily Mail campaign calling for a ban on microbeads after this newspaper highlighted how the UK dumps an average of 86 tons of the plastic particles into the sea every day.
There are fears that they collect in the bodies of marine life and could then enter the food chain.
Earlier this year, Nicola Sturgeon disclosed that she is to introduce a bottle deposit return scheme in Scotland by 2019 following a Scottish Daily Mail Banish the Bottle campaign.
The First Minister has also announced the formation of an expert panel whose members will consider how to reduce the volume of single-use products such as coffee cups.
It is understood that Scottish ministers are working with other administrations in the UK to ensure the ban is implemented effectively across Britain.
A joint consultation on the ban was published by the Scottish and UK Government earlier this year.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Marine litter is a serious issue which adversely affects the health of Scotland’s seas and the world’s oceans.
‘It impacts on our wildlife and damages our marine environment, on which many livelihoods depend. The need for action is clear – these products are of no real benefit but create real and lasting damage to Scotland’s marine environment.’