Overview
The European Union's microplastic emission reporting system has been officially launched, requiring relevant companies to complete their first submission by May 2026.
Recently, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the official launch of the annual microplastic emission reporting system, allowing companies to start submitting their annual microplastic emission reports to ECHA. This reporting obligation applies to specific uses that are exempted from the EU Microplastic Restriction. The first report must be submitted by May 31, 2026, covering estimated emission data for the year 2025.
Background: EU Microplastic Restriction Enters a New Phase
In October 2023, the EU Microplastic Restriction (European Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, Article 78 of Annex XVII to the REACH Regulation) formally entered into force. This regulation prohibits the intentional addition of microplastics in various consumer and industrial products and restricts certain processes that release microplastics into the environment.
However, the regulation provides permanent exemptions for some uses to maintain critical societal functions and ensure manageable risks:
Strictly regulated specific products: Veterinary and human medicines, food additives, in vitro diagnostic devices, etc., which are regulated by dedicated EU legislation.
Uses at industrial sites: Use as a raw material circulated between factories, undergoing processing, or compounding operations.
To ensure effective monitoring of microplastic emissions from these exempted uses, the EU introduced an annual reporting obligation. This requires relevant companies to regularly disclose the emission status of Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPMs), enabling regulatory authorities to monitor emissions and evaluate the effectiveness of risk management measures.
SPM Annual Reporting System Officially Launched: IUCLID and REACH-IT Support Compliance
On November 26, 2025, ECHA announced that the latest versions of its chemical data software, IUCLID, and submission tool, REACH-IT, now support companies in fulfilling their microplastic reporting obligations. Companies are required to provide information on SPM emissions, including:
Mandatory Data Disclosure: Providing a description of the SPM's use, general identity information of the polymer, and the applicable exemption clause.
Environmental Release Estimation: Estimating the quantity of SPMs released into the environment in the preceding year. This estimation must explicitly include spills that occurred during transportation (e.g., loading, unloading, repackaging).
Who Must Report
The reporting obligation applies to the following entities:
Manufacturers: Companies that produce SPMs.
Importers: Companies that import SPMs or products containing SPMs into the EU.
Downstream Users: Companies that use SPMs at industrial sites.
Suppliers: Suppliers who first place products containing exempted or transitional SPMs on the professional or public market.
Reporting Timeline and Deadlines
ECHA has set phased reporting deadlines based on different uses and supply chain roles:
Reporting Deadline | Reporting Subject and Scope | Data Year Covered |
May 31, 2026 | for manufacturers and industrial downstream users of SPMs in form of pellets, flakes, and powders, used as raw material in plastic production at industrial sites. | 2025 |
May 31, 2027 | for all other manufacturers and industrial downstream users of SPMs at industrial sites, as well as for suppliers placing products containing SPMs on the market for the first time for specific exempted uses by professionals or the public | 2026 |
Note: The report must cover emissions from the previous calendar year. Currently, REACH-IT only supports initial submissions, with the update function scheduled to be available in the second quarter of 2026. To guide compliance, ECHA has published a series of support materials, including a reporting guide, operational manual, and video tutorials. All affected companies are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these official resources before the deadline to ensure accurate and compliant reporting.
Compliance Recommendations from REACH24H
In the face of mandatory annual data disclosure requirements, companies should immediately shift from a reactive "response" to proactive "management". It is recommended to establish and improve the microplastic compliance system.
For companies requiring professional support to navigate these challenges, the expert team at REACH24H can provide one-stop compliance services, aimed at simplifying complexity and ensuring smooth product access to the EU market:
Microplastic Compliance Assessment and Exemption Evaluation: Assisting companies with precise product portfolio screening to determine if they fall within the scope of the restriction and to identify usable transition periods or exemptions.
SDS and Label Update/Creation: Reviewing and creating compliant Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and product labels according to the latest regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance in information transfer.
Preparation and Submission of SPM Annual Reports: Assisting in the preparation and submission of the IUCLID dossier, ensuring the compliance of SPM products and avoiding non-compliance risks due to improper reporting.
For more updates and inquiries, please feel free to contact us at customer@reach24h.com.
