The European Council, Commission, and Parliament – under the leadership of the S&D Group – reached an agreement last night on a regulation to prevent plastic pellet losses. The S&Ds welcome this outcome as a major victory in the fight against plastic pollution.
A key achievement was the inclusion of maritime transport within the regulation’s scope – an essential step, as nearly 40% of plastic pellets in the EU are transported by sea. The S&Ds successfully fought for a balanced compromise to ensure that this crucial sector is held accountable.
The regulation introduces certification-based obligations for European operators, who will now be required to demonstrate compliance with minimum equipment and procedures to prevent, contain, and clean up plastic pellet losses. It also extends the EU carrier obligations to non-EU carriers, guaranteeing a level playing field.
César Luena, MEP and European Parliament’s lead negotiator for the regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution, said:
“The adoption of ambitious measures on microplastics is a vital step towards protecting our health, environment, and economies. By holding polluters accountable, we can prevent future ecological disasters like those already witnessed in Spain, the Netherlands, and the North Sea, where millions of plastic pellets have washed ashore and contaminated the land. Beyond environmental harm, plastic pollution threatens entire local economies by damaging fisheries, endangering marine biodiversity, and undermining both tourism and agriculture.
“We are sending a clear message: the goal is not just to reduce pellet losses – it is to prevent them altogether. European installations and both EU and non-EU carriers handling these materials will now be held fully responsible.”
