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<p>On 3 September 2016 the Government announced plans to ban the sale and manufacture
of cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads where these are capable
of harming the marine environment. Our plans will be informed by a formal consultation
later this year. At the same time, evidence will be gathered on the extent of the
environmental impacts of microbeads found in other products before considering what
more can be done in future to tackle other plastics, for example microfibres, which
enter the marine environment.</p><p>Given the trans-boundary nature of marine litter,
we will also continue to work with other countries in the Oslo and Paris Convention
for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR) to
address marine litter, including microplastics.</p><p>In December 2015, the UK published
its Marine Strategy Part Three: UK programme of measures. This sets out a comprehensive
set of measures to address marine litter. Some measures address microplastics directly;
others contribute indirectly by removing, or avoiding the release of, larger plastic
particles, preventing their degradation into microplastics.</p>
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