Microbead Ban Quietly Becomes Law - Mfg. To End 7/1/17, Sales To End 7/1/18

Despite Washington being in a notorious era of gridlock — marked by impasses and skirmishes between President Obama and a Republican-controlled Congress on just about any issue — a significant bill for the Great Lakes region sailed through smoothly while America was caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 was passed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 18 and signed into law by Mr. Obama on Dec. 28. The House of Representatives approved it earlier in the month.

Introduced in both chambers last spring, the act requires the manufacturing of products containing tiny bits of plastic known as microbeads to end by July 1, 2017, and the sale of them to cease by July 1, 2018. Microbeads are mostly in health and beauty products such as facial scrubs, soap, and toothpaste.

The Senate version was co-authored by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio).

EDIT

https://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2016/01/04/Ban-on-microbeads-quietly-becomes-law.html