The EU has finally approved a legally binding regulation to prevent plastic pellet loss across the supply chain. This long-awaited decision is a major milestone in the fight against pellet plastic pollution — and Fidra welcomes this important step forward.
The new regulations mean mandatory spill prevention measure will apply to every stage of the pellet supply chain, from production to storage, transport, cleaning, and reprocessing — including maritime transport, which is a major source of pellet spills. This decision sets a powerful precedent for other countries to follow and comes just weeks after yet another devastating pellet spill in the North Sea that has caused significant pollution along the UK coastline.
The positives: a legally binding supply chain approach which includes maritime transport, mandatory audits and spill prevention measures
Under the new law, previously voluntary recommendations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will become legally binding, which will significantly strengthen the packaging requirements helping to prevent the release of billions of plastic pellets into our oceans.
Additionally, medium and large operators handling over 1,500 tonnes of pellets annually will face mandatory independent audits, with regular third-party checks ensuring greater accountability. Crucially, the regulation sets a clear "zero pellet loss" goal, supported by a hierarchy of actions: prioritising prevention first, then containment, and then clean-up.
The negatives: small companies are excluded from scope, and long implementation timelines reduce effectiveness
Worryingly, smaller operators are largely exempt from these stricter requirements. Companies handling less than 1,500 tonnes per year will only be required to submit self-declarations of conformity — with no independent oversight. Small companies also handling above 1 500 tonnes per year have reduced obligations, such as one-off certification every 5 years. This risks leaving thousands of businesses outside meaningful enforcement, undermining the regulation’s ambition for an effective zero pellet loss goal and a true supply chain approach.
Delays to implementation also pose a significant threat to progress. Maritime operators will have up to three years to comply, and full implementation across all sectors could take as long as five years — meaning our environment will continue to suffer preventable pellet pollution in the meantime.
While this regulation is a vital and meaningful first step, to truly achieve a future of zero pellet loss, loopholes must be closed, implementation accelerated, and robust enforcement must be guaranteed.
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