Microbead Bill Passes Congress Without Biodegradable Plastic Exemption

The Senate passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act December 18, following House clearance earlier this month. With President Obama's signature, the legislation will establish national uniformity in cosmetic microbead regulation and a feasible phase-out schedule, but use of PHA-based microbeads, sought by manufacturers as a highly adaptable replacement option, ostensibly will not be permitted in the US.