New California Law Will Ban Products With Plastic Microbeads

California Governor Jerry Brown approved a measure on Thursday that will phase out exfoliating microbeads in California by 2020.

The measure will prohibit the sale of toothpaste, soaps, facial and body scrubs, and other personal care products with plastic microbeads, which are known to pollute waterways and have been discovered in the bodies of fish and other wildlife.

In the face of opposition from businesses, including Procter & Gamble, late amendments were added to the measure that deleted references to natural exfoliants and removed a requirement that state Department of Toxic Substances Control evaluate alternatives to plastic microbeads, reports the Los Angeles Times.

California State Assembly Member Richard Bloom said that despite the changes, the ban remained the most stringent in the country.

“While other states have passed regulations on the use of microbeads, this legislation was carefully crafted to avoid any loopholes that would allow for use of potentially harmful substitutes,” Bloom said in a statement.