The European Union has adopted an amendment to the REACH Regulation establishing a regulatory framework to restrict and ban the intentional addition of Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPMs) in consumer products. 

The regulation has a phased implementation schedule based on the intended application of the final product. For leave-on cosmetic formulations, which encompasses sunscreens, products containing SPMs may no longer be put on the market after October 16, 2029.

Some surface treatments used for zinc oxide and other pigments will fall int eh scope of this regulation. Triethoxycaprylyl Silane (TECS) is such treatment and can form a continuous, solid polymeric network on the particle surface. In such case the particle as a whole will be considered a SPM and will defect be banned in Europe as of October 16th, 2029.

Please refer to our Technical Brief on this topic for a deep-dive into the new SPM regulations and its implication for siloxane treated products.