Bead ban hailed

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s move to ban plastic microbeads is being welcomed, though some say the move has been slow.

Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith yesterday announced a proposal to ban the sale and manufacture of personal care products containing the microbeads in New Zealand because of the risk they pose to aquatic and marine environments.

Consultation is open until the February 28, and Dr Smith said the proposed ban would take effect on July 1, 2018.

Microbeads are commonly used as abrasives in products like body scrubs and they are not removed by wastewater treatment plants.

Dr Smith said the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom had similar moves under way.

‘‘The risk for New Zealand is if we don’t move we’ll end up as a dumping ground,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s important for our reputation to be working with other countries and moving to prohibit these microbeads.’’

Dr Smith said the consultation would address if there were some uses in essential health and medicines that needed to be considered.

The microbeads were too small to retrieve or recycle and did not biodegrade, he said.

Associate Prof Mary Sewell, of Auckland University, said there was no need to put plastic in the products as there were natural alternatives.

‘‘We are behind the rest of the world, as many countries have already banned these products.’’

Dr Sally Gaw from the University of Canterbury said fish and shellfish could ingest microplastics and animals might mistake them for food.