President Obama has signed into law H.R. 1321, the "Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015." The new law prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of rinse-off cosmetics (including toothpaste) containing intentionally-added plastic microbeads to prevent the microbeads from getting into waterways. The act also preempts state law with respect to the manufacture or introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of rinse-off cosmetics containing plastic microbeads. The prohibition with respect to manufacturing is applicable beginning on July 1, 2017, and the prohibition with respect to introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce is applicable beginning on July 1, 2018.
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