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Microplastics in tea bags

Question écrite de M. Ignazio CORRAO - Commission européenne

Question de M. Ignazio CORRAO, M. Piernicola PEDICINI,

Diffusée le 6 juillet 2020

Subject: Microplastics in tea bags

A recent study by McGill University in Montreal found that teabags made of nylon and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), when in contact with boiling water, release billions of micro- and nanoparticles.

Analysing four types of tea bags on the market, immersed in water at 95°C, researchers measured that an average of 11.6 billion microparticles and 3.1 billion nanoparticles are dispersed into a volume of water equivalent to a cup – thousands of times more than other foods and beverages.

Numerous studies on the negative impact of microplastics in the human body have been conducted in recent years. One study by the Austrian Environment Agency, which found nine different types of polymer in the faeces of a population sample, theorised that microplastics could be present in 50 % of the world's population.

Can the Commission say:

1. whether it is aware of studies on the impact of microplastics in tea bags;

2. what action it intends to take to protect public health, in implementation of the precautionary principle;

3. whether it will ban the use of plastic in tea bags and encourage the use of reusable or recyclable filters?

Supporter1

1 This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Eleonora Evi (NI)

Réponse - Commission européenne

Diffusée le 6 septembre 2020

Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (7 September 2020)

The Commission is aware that microplastics are widespread in the environment and that studies on the topic are published contributing to fill the knowledge gap. The Plastics Strategy (2) recalls that innovative solutions are needed to address microplastics release and targeted measures for each source.

A report by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors also points to precautionary measures (3). Therefore, the Commission committed in the new Circular Economy Action Plan (4) to address the presence of microplastics in the environment by restricting the use of intentionally added microplastics in products (e.g. cosmetics, detergents, paints) and addressing unintentional releases of microplastics such as tyres, textiles and pellets.

Studies to support future political action are being prepared and will be launched as soon as the initiative is politically validated. Tea bags could be addressed if these studies find that they constitute a relevant source of releases. Account will be taken of the work of stakeholders and of other existing or future initiatives, e.g. the Sustainable Product Policy Initiative, the review of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (5), the European Strategy on Textiles and the revision of the Tyre Labelling Regulation (6).

⋅1∙ This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Eleonora Evi (NI)

⋅2∙ A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, COM(2018)16.

⋅3∙ ‘Environmental and health risks of microplastic pollution’, https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/research_and_innovation/groups/sam/ec_rtd_sam-mnp-

opinion_042019.pdf

⋅4∙ A new Circular Economy Action Plan, COM(2020)98.

⋅5∙ Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40‐52.

⋅6∙ Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and

other essential parameters, OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, p. 46‐58.











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