Henry Smith MP has given his backing in the House of Commons to the Government’s plans to ban the sale and manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products containing tiny pieces of plastic, commonly known as ‘microbeads’.

Henry said;

“I welcome the new Environment Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, confirming these proposals, and have called on the Prime Minister to ensure the UK continues to be a world leader in environmental policy.

“Every year, billions of these tiny beads end up in the oceans from products including some toothpastes and shower gels.

“The UK will soon be doing its part to further protect our marine environment. Creatures such as fish can swallow these beads when they build up in the marine environment; there’s no need to add plastic to products such as body scrubs where harmless alternatives can be used instead.”

Henry Smith MP asked the Prime Minister;

“I very much welcome the Government’s announcement this week that they plan to ban plastic microbeads in many cosmetic products, including face scrubs and toothpastes. As well as the moral stance that the Government take in forums such as the G20 on anti-slavery and free markets, my request is that we continue to be world leaders in taking forward environmental policies so that we can protect our marine wildlife and the rest of the planet.”

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, responded;

“I thank my hon. Friend for his comments about our decision on microbeads. They have an impact on marine life and it is clearly right that we ban them in certain products. We are seen to be leading on issues such as climate change, and we can lead on the wider area of environmental concerns.”

Notes to Editors

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP, confirmed on 3rd September 2016 that the Government would ban the sale and manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads (Microbead ban announced to protect sealife, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 3rd September 2016).

On 6th September 2016, it was announced that Cllr Geraint Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability on Crawley Borough Council, had written to Crawley shops urging them to stop their sale of products containing microbeads (Shops urged to end sale of products containing microbeads, Crawley Borough Council, 6th September 2016).