Microplastic pollution: The policy context

This paper has been drawn up as background input to work by the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) aimed at delivering science-based policy advice on the health and environmental impacts of microplastics.

The European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors launched work on this topic following exploratory discussions in the first half of 2018 including a scoping workshop with experts on 26 April 2018 and publication of an Initial Statement published by the Advisors on 09 July 2018. This paper maps the broad policy landscape relevant to the problem of microplastic pollution. Its primary focus is on EU policy though information is also included on some international and national policy initiatives.