On October 17, 2027, many gels, shampoos and scrubs that are sold normally today will no longer be able to be placed on the EU market without reformulation. This is not a forecast: it is a date that is already in the regulation.
We are talking about Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 of September 25, 2023, which amends Annex XVII of REACH and restricts synthetic polymer microparticles (the so-called intentionally added microplastics). The restriction has been in force since October 17, 2023 and applies to mixtures with a concentration equal to or greater than 0.01% by weight.
What matters for formulators: not everything applies at once. The regulation sets a staggered timetable by product type: already banned, abrasive exfoliating/cleansing microspheres (the former “microbeads”); Oct 17, 2027, other rinse-off cosmetics (gels, shampoos, hair masks); Oct 17, 2029, leave-on cosmetics and fragrance encapsulation; Oct 17, 2035, makeup, lip and nail products.
The typical mistake is not bad faith: it is being late. Reformulating a range, approving an alternative ingredient and gathering the documentation cannot be done in a quarter. Those who start reviewing their INCI lists now will reach 2027 comfortably; those who leave it for the last year will not.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 on microplastics?
We are talking about Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 of September 25, 2023, which amends Annex XVII of REACH and restricts synthetic polymer microparticles (the so-called intentionally added microplastics). The restriction has been in force since October 17, 2023 and applies to mixtures with a concentration equal to or greater than 0.01% by weight.
What is the timetable of the microplastics restriction?
On October 17, 2027, many gels, shampoos and scrubs that are sold normally today will no longer be able to be placed on the EU market without reformulation. This is not a forecast: it is a date that is already in the regulation. What matters for formulators: not everything applies at once. The regulation sets a staggered timetable by product type: already banned, abrasive exfoliating/cleansing microspheres (the former “microbeads”); Oct 17, 2027, other rinse-off cosmetics (gels, shampoos, hair masks); Oct 17, 2029, leave-on cosmetics and fragrance encapsulation; Oct 17, 2035, makeup, lip and nail products.
Why should formulations be reviewed now?
The typical mistake is not bad faith: it is being late. Reformulating a range, approving an alternative ingredient and gathering the documentation cannot be done in a quarter. Those who start reviewing their INCI lists now will reach 2027 comfortably; those who leave it for the last year will not.
Sources
- Reglamento (UE) 2023/2055 de la Comisión, de 25/09/2023, que modifica el anexo XVII del REACH (microplásticos)
- Uría Menéndez (2025) — guía interpretativa de la Comisión Europea sobre la restricción de microplásticos del REACH
- Intertek España — Microplásticos en Europa: evaluación y soporte reglamentario
- Biorius — Microplásticos en los cosméticos: fechas de aplicación por categoría
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