With the increasing public concern over the damage that plastic microbeads cause to the ecosystem and the environment, the EPA has decided to ban the manufacture, importation and sale of cosmetics and personal care products that contain such microbeads. The ban will take effect from 1 July 2018 at the earliest. Due to growing international concern about the damage that plastic microbeads cause to the ecosystem and the environment, the EPA has examined international trends and has decided to control the use of microbeads in personal care products in Taiwan. To this end, on 23 August 2016 the EPA preannounced a draft of the Restrictions on the Manufacture, Import and Sale of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Including Toothpaste that Contain Plastic Microbeads Affected enterprises will be given a suitable grace period to adapt to the new regime. The characteristics of being non-biodegradable and on the scale of micrometers make plastic microbeads difficult to remove once they enter inland waterbodies or the ocean. Examination of international microbead management measures showed that control-at-source, such as limiting the microbead content of such products, is the major focus. The US, for instance, will begin phased controls from 1 July 2017. Referring to the US control measures and taking into account the time needed for affected local enterprises to adapt, the ban on the manufacture and import of cosmetics and personal care products that contain plastic microbeads will come into effect on 1 July 2018. Since some of these products will have been legally manufactured before the ban and need time to be sold, the affected enterprises are granted a 12-18 month grace period to adapt. The second phase of controls – a total ban on the sale of these products – will take effect on 1 January 2020. In addition, since many cosmetics and personal care products sold in Taiwan are imported and Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Taiwan will fulfill its obligations regarding legislative transparency and preannounce the ban to allow 60 days for WTO members to comment. The EPA will hold public hearings and discussion meetings to gather public opinion as well.