Written question asked by Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party) on Monday, 10 July 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 July 2023. It was answered by Lord Benyon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 July 2023 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Sportsgrounds: Health Hazards

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the European Commission proposal to ban the use of recycled rubber infill in artificial pitches, and in particular of its differential impact on (1) Great Britain, and (2) Northern Ireland.

Answer: Based on our commitment to having control of our own laws, the UK has now implemented its own regulatory framework. The EU proposal to ban the use of microplastics in sports pitches will not apply in Great Britain. EU REACH continues to apply in Northern Ireland, where the ban will apply following an 8-year transition period. The scientific and socio-economic evidence to support the EU proposal was considered as part of the EU REACH restriction process. We continue to monitor developments in EU REACH, and consider their impacts for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Secondary information