An Act To Prohibit Synthetic Plastic Microbeads in Personal Care Products and Over-the-counter Drugs
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0085
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: SA VIELLO, WELSH, DAVIS, HAMPER, MIRAMANT, DUCHESNE, POULIOT, TEPLER
Amends: 38 MRSA §419-D

Legislative Document 
No. 85 
S.P.33 
In Senate, January 20,2015 
An Act To Prohibit Synthetic Plastic Microbeads in Personal Care 
Products and Over-the-counter Drugs 
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Senator SA VIELLO of Franklin. 
Cosponsored by Representative WELSH of Rockport and 
HEATHER lR. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: DAVIS of Piscataquis, HAMPER of Oxford, MIRAMANT of Knox, 
Representatives: DUCHESNE of Hudson, POULIOT of Augusta, TEPLER of Topsham. 
Printed on recycled paper 
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §419-D is enacted to read: 
§419-D.  Synthetic plastic microbeads 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Over-the-counter drug" means a drug that is a personal care product that contains 
a label that identifies the product as a drug as required by 21 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Section 201.66 (2014).  Such a label includes but is not limited to a drug 
facts panel or a statement of the active ingredients with a list of those ingredients 
contained in the base compound, substance or preparation. 
B.  "Personal care product" means any article intended to be rubbed, poured, 
sprinkled or sprayed on, introduced into or otherwise applied to any part of the 
human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the 
appearance, and any item intended for use as a component of any such article. 
"Personal care product" does not include a prescription drug. 
C.  "Plastic" means a synthetic material made from linking monomers through a 
chemical reaction to create an organic polymer chain that can be molded or extruded 
at high heat into various solid forms retaining their defined shapes during their life 
cycle and after disposal. 
D.  "Synthetic plastic microbead" means any intentionally added nonbiodegradable 
solid plastic particle measuring less than 5 millimeters in size and used to exfoliate or 
cleanse in a product intended to be rinsed off. 
2.  Prohibitions.  A person may not: 
A.  After December 31, 2017, manufacture for sale a personal care product, except 
for an over-the-counter drug, that contains synthetic plastic microbeads; 
B.  After December 31, 2018, accept for sale a personal care product, except for an 
over-the-counter drug, that contains synthetic plastic microbeads; 
C.  After December 31, 2018, manufacture for sale an over-the-counter drug that 
contains synthetic plastic microbeads; and 
D.  After December 31, 2019, accept for sale an over-the-counter drug that contains 
synthetic plastic microbeads. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes dates after which the manufacture for sale or acceptance for sale 
of personal care products containing synthetic plastic microbeads is prohibited. It also 
establishes dates after which the manufacture for sale or acceptance for sale of an over-
the-counter drug containing synthetic plastic microbeads is prohibited.