Reducing microplastic emissions in the EU – EU Commission answer

Brussels, 18 August 2023

See question(s) : P-002208/2023

EN
P-002208/2023
Answer given by Mr Breton
on behalf of the European Commission
(17.8.2023)
The Commission is committed to reducing microplastic pollution in the environment. As such, it is currently assessing how best to tackle various sources of unintentionally released microplastics, including tyres. The result of this assessment will pave the way towards achieving the Zero Pollution Action Plan¹ objective of a 30% reduction in microplastic releases by 2030.

Regarding tyres specifically, the proposed Euro 7 Regulation² was identified as the most appropriate legislative instrument to tackle microplastic emissions from tyre abrasion. Under this Regulation as proposed by the Commission, tyres would need to satisfy certain tyre abrasion limits to be allowed on the EU market. The Commission proposed to develop such abrasion limits based on the work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Task Force on Tyre Abrasion (TFTA)³, which is co-chaired by the Commission and France.

Technical work has been progressing satisfactorily and according to the planned timeline in that context. It is now in the hands of the co-legislators to swiftly adopt Euro 7 and empower the Commission to develop Euro 7 tyre abrasion limits without unnecessary delays.