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<p>The Government is taking decisive action to reduce plastic pollution. We have introduced
one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products
and brought in measures to restrict the supply of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers,
and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in October 2020. The use of single-use carrier bags
has been reduced in the main supermarkets by over 97% with our five, now ten, pence
charge.</p><p>As set out in the 2022-2023 UK REACH Work Programme available on GOV.UK,
we are reviewing intentionally added microplastics and the risks they pose to human
health and the environment. The results will help to inform the Government's approach
to managing any risks whether through UK REACH or other routes.</p><p>The recent study
that has found microplastic particles in breast milk indicates the potential for low
human neonate exposure via breast milk (and the exposure of the mother). However,
the small sample size in these studies mean that these results need to be taken as
indicative and highlight the need for further research in this area.</p><p>In 2021,
the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
(COT) published an overarching statement on potential risks from exposure to microplastics
( <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcot.food.gov.uk%2FM-statementsandpositionpapers%23microplastics&data=05%7C01%7CMaria.Alemao%40defra.gov.uk%7Cb4b3da3967f744c61f2f08dab821640d%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638024750789679907%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=n4OOhar%2FgGNLbQ6yHDNWdcqgBClUIcl8gXS668Vwx3o%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://cot.food.gov.uk/M-statementsandpositionpapers#microplastics(opens
in a new tab)</a>). A copy is attached to this answer. The COT made a number of proposals
for research priorities to aid risk assessment of microplastics, and concluded that
"based on the available data, it is not yet possible to perform a complete assessment
for the potential risks from exposure to micro and nanoplastics via the oral and inhalation
routes".</p>
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