New Delhi, May 28 The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has classified microbeads as "unsafe" for use in cosmetic products, the government has informed the National Green Tribunal.
The submission was made in response to a plea filed by Delhi-based lawyer Ashwini Kumar seeking complete ban on the use of microbeads in the manufacture, import and sale of various cosmetics or personal care products.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told a bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim that BIS has published a document on May 16 "Classification for cosmetic raw materials and adjuncts, Part 2: List of raw materials generally not recognised as safe for use in cosmetics" by incorporating non-biodegradable polymeric microbeads in the banned list.
"It is submitted that this draft notification was not published by the Ministry of Health but was issued by a different department that is BIS.
After this information, the affidavit containing the draft notification was placed before the Drug Controller General of India for approval," an affidavit by the Health Ministry said.
Kumar has claimed that microbeads escape the filtration and treatment processes for waste water and end up in rivers, which ultimately lead to ocean where they contribute to the huge chunk of "plastic soup" in the environment.
The Ministry also told the bench that the last date for inviting comments on the draft notification is July 15 and the grievances of the applicant would be addressed by the publication of the document.
Advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for the petitioner, said that voluntary step by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ban microbeads in cosmetics would be a monumental step towards reducing water pollution.
The NGT had earlier directed the Centre to test cosmetic products containing microbeads after a plea sought ban on their use on the ground they are extremely dangerous for aquatic life and environment.
It had said that it is the duty of the government to ensure that no "dangerous" product is allowed to be manufactured or sold to public and directed the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to analyse the products in a laboratory and submit a report in four weeks.

UMBC faculty address water pollution: Blaney, Swan, Baker.
The Conversation, Lee Blaney, assistant professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering, describes how personal care products can negatively affect the environment and the health of animals and humans, and how his research is working to limit those harmful impacts.
Unfortunately, “[t]hese plants are not designed to treat the thousands of specialty chemicals in pharmaceuticals and personal care products,” Blaney notes.
“They are not equipped to handle the many ingredients of concern that are present in personal care products.” To reduce the impact these products have, Blaney says that the improvement of wastewater treatment technologies is crucial, as the chemicals in personal care products may threaten the health of people and aquatic animals, even when found at low concentrations.
For example, Matt Baker, professor of geography and environmental systems (GES), conducts research to better understand how direct runoff from agriculture and urban areas affects waterways.
His work has demonstrated that thickly vegetated zones along the banks of rivers and streams, called “riparian buffers,” can significantly reduce the amount of pollution that enters these waterways and ends up in the Bay.
His research seeks to green vacant lots with native plants, whose roots will absorb some city pollutants.
Blaney, Baker, and Swan are just a few of the many UMBC faculty focused on challenges related to the intricate relationships people have with their environments.
True of other challenges as well, Blaney says a “multi-pronged approach” will help today’s scientists, policymakers, and innovators to “continue to improve our quality of life without harming the environment.” Header image: The UMBC Library Pond.
Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.