REACH Microplastics Reporting: ECHA Publishes Guidance as First Deadline Approaches

On 26 April 2026, ECHA published the Guidelines for the Reporting Requirements set by the REACH Restriction on Synthetic Polymer Microparticles, supporting manufacturers, industrial downstream users, and suppliers in meeting their obligations under Entry 78 of Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation (introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055).

The guidance explains what needs to be reported, by whom, and how. Reports must be submitted annually by 31 May each year, covering emissions from the previous calendar year. The submission format is IUCLID, and reports must be submitted through REACH-IT.

Who reports and when

Reporting obligations are phased by entity type:

• By 31 May 2026: Manufacturers and industrial downstream users of synthetic polymer microparticles in the form of pellets, flakes, and powders used as raw material in plastics manufacturing
• By 31 May 2027: All other manufacturers and industrial downstream users, as well as suppliers of products containing synthetic polymer microparticles subject to a derogation

Distributors have no direct reporting obligation unless they are involved in importation, reformulation, repackaging, or relabelling.

What needs to be reported

Companies must report their estimated annual emissions to the environment, covering air, water, and soil, including transport emissions. There is no minimum reporting threshold: even very low or near-zero emissions must be reported.

Next steps

Companies in scope of the 2026 deadline should ensure their IUCLID dossier is ready for submission through REACH-IT before 31 May 2026. The ECHA guidance is available on the ECHA website.