UN Panel Rejects Bid to Classify Plastic Pellets as Dangerous
A United Nations subcommittee has rejected a proposal from Germany and the Netherlands to classify plastic pellets as dangerous goods in maritime transport.
The U.N. Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods discussed the proposal during its 66th session, taking place in Geneva June 30-July 4.
The proposal was rejected during the July 1 discussion.
Germany and the Netherlands called for the classification of plastic pellets as dangerous goods under U.N. Class 9, assigning a dedicated UN number specifically targeting maritime transport of the material.
The wider context of the proposal relates to the work of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), an agency of the United Nations. Following various plastic pellets spillages at sea, the IMO is considering the introduction of mandatory measures to regulate maritime transport of plastic pellets. One of the measures under consideration is using the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code for the regulation of transport of plastic pellets by sea. Germany and the Netherlands argued that assigning a UN number for plastic pellets would facilitate IMO’s decision.
“Assignment of an individual U.N. number would enable regulation of the maritime transport of plastic pellets through the IMDG Code. Using the IMDG Code for the regulation of the transport of plastic pellets avoids the need to introduce additional [international] legislation and enforcement specifically for plastic pellets … which would result in delay and increased costs. Using the existing IMDG Code framework would also be beneficial to the shipping industry as a widely known and effectively used instrument,” the proposal argues.
The U.N. Subcommittee generally opposed the proposal, noting that plastic pellets do not specifically meet any of the existing criteria. The group of experts agreed to hold further discussion later in the week to prepare feedback on its decision for the IMO.
U.N. Class 9 dangerous goods are classified as substances and articles which, during transport, present a danger not covered by the other classes of dangerous goods. Examples include lithium-ions batteries, genetically modified microorganisms, asbestos, dry ice, and safety devices like air bags.
In their proposal, Germany and the Netherlands already acknowledged plastic pellets do not meet the criteria for classification as "environmentally hazardous substances." Nonetheless, the countries argued the material fits with other miscellaneous substances in Class 9, for example carbon dioxide or dry ice.
The U.N. discussion comes as the European Union has itself provisionally agreed on stricter rules against plastic pellet loss.
The rules lay down obligations for the handling of plastic pellets to prevent losses at all stages of the supply chain. Where spills and losses occur, entities are responsible to take immediate action to contain and clean-up those spills and losses.
The EU produced and handled around 57 million metric tons of pellets in 2021. Between 52,140 and 184,290 tonnes of pellets are estimated to have been lost to the environment in the continent in 2019 alone.