Plaid Cymru Pontypridd On Your Side

“More than 8 million tonnes of plastic reaches the oceans each year, affecting at least 136 species of marine life, such as sea birds.

In response to a question from Plaid Cymru, the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs has indicated the Welsh Government intends to ban microbeads.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs for the Party of Wales Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said:

“If you are fond of shellfish, you could be ingesting up to 11,000 bits of microplastic every year.  A ban on the manufacture and sale of cosmetics containing plastic microbeads would help cut down on plastics in our seas and our shorelines.”

In an answer to a written question the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs states:

“Welsh Government will also be implementing a ban on the manufacture and sale of cosmetics and personal care products containing plastic microbeads. There will be a public consultation later this year on how the ban will be implemented and enforced in Wales. Banning these products will help reduce plastics entering the marine environment.”