Bureau of Indian Standards classifies microbeads as unsafe for use in cosmetics

The Government of India has informed the National Green Tribunal that its Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified the use of microbeads in cosmetic products as unsafe.

The move follows a plea filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar urging a ban on the use of microbeads during manufacture, import, and sale of cosmetics or personal care products, reported PTI.  

BIS added the non-biodegradable polymeric microbeads to the banned list in a draft publication, which was later presented to the country’s drug controller general for approval.

Microbeads are said to accumulate and contaminate the environment as they are not removed by wastewater filtration and treatment.

Kumar’s advocate Sumeer Sodhi was quoted by the new agency as saying: “The voluntary step by the Ministry of Health would be a monumental step towards reducing water pollution because of plastic (marine and otherwise) and would put India in the list of one of the very few countries who have taken a step in this direction.

“The same has of course happened in furtherance of the cause raised by the applicant.”

Following the plea to ban microbeads in cosmetic products, the National Green Tribunal guided the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to test microbead-containing products in a laboratory. The organisation was directed to submit the results from the analysis within four weeks.