<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some of Australia's leading skincare brands have been forced to pull popular products from shelves in one state after they were found to contain banned plastic microbeads. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has issued compliance notices to six businesses - Natio, Coles Group, McPherson's Consumer Products, Aesthetics Skincare, Frostbland and JMSR Australia - to withdraw nine different items.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most of the products were exfoliators, and include the popular Alya Skin pomegranate exfoliator facial scrub, the Dr LeWinn's essentials gentle exfoliant weekly facial polishing gel and the Natio ageless skin renewal exfoliator.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/paul-keating-gave-anthony-albanese-fighting-words-ahead-of-meeting-with-donald-trump/ce96a166-9275-4c31-8a59-5f270b4a3104" rel="" target="_blank" title="Former PM gave Albanese 'fighting words' in case Trump 'turned nasty' during first meeting"><strong><span>Former PM gave Albanese 'fighting words' in case Trump 'turned nasty' during first meeting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The EPA alleged the skincare items contain microbeads, which are tiny solid plastic particles that began to be phased out a decade ago.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They are often microscopic in size and cannot be filtered out during sewage and treatment works, leaving them to wash up in rivers, lakes and oceans. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Once in the water, they can attract toxins and work their way back up to humans via the food chain.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/skincare-products-pulled-from-shelves-over-banned-ingredient/09a8de53-14bc-4425-aefb-54ac1c8c0e92" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While some of the products had particles made of bioplastics like polylactic acid and cellulose acetate, the EPA argues they do not readily break down and are still defined as plastic under legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Microbeads don't belong in skincare or our waterways – they can threaten marine life and people's health," EPA chief executive Tony Chappel said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since receiving the compliance notices, the six brands have removed all of the stock.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-free-solar-power-solar-saver/0e4e34e2-2537-4ebd-86d0-0e461c44f94f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Australian households to get free electricity for three hours a day</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The EPA also worked with major retailers, like Chemist Warehouse and Priceline, to get the products out of stores quickly. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is one of a few regulators in the world to take enforcement action against the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Further investigations are underway as the authority works to enforce the state plastics ban. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Plastic microbeads were once a common item in cosmetic and skincare products to add texture, exfoliate and extend shelf life.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW banned their use in rinse-off skincare products from November 1, 2022, with a failure to comply with a notice carrying a maximum penalty of up to $550,000, plus an extra $55,000 for each day the products are supplied. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Plastic microbeads are also banned in the ACT, Western Australia and Queensland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Northern Territory is looking at banning them, while the remaining states have no ban in place. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/theresa-binge-murder-police-announce-1-million-reward-to-help-find-murdered-nsw-mother/5c3abcdd-1d54-4528-a21b-6ee31675c92b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Police announce $1 million reward to help find NSW mother's killer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Full list of the products withdrawn from shelves</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><span>Aesthetics Skincare Pty Ltd – Aesthetics Bio Fermented Triple Action Scrub</span></li><li><span>Coles Group Ltd – KOi For Men Cleansing Face Scrub Oat and Desert Lime</span></li><li><span>Frostbland Pty Ltd – Alya Skin Pomegranate Exfoliator Facial Scrub and Exfoliating Sorbet</span></li><li><span>JMSR Australia Pty Ltd – Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub and Jan Marini Cranberry Orange Exfoliator</span></li><li><span>McPherson's Consumer Products Pty Ltd – Dr LeWinn's Essentials Gentle Exfoliant Weekly Facial Polishing Gel</span></li><li><span>Natio Pty Ltd – Natio Men's Purifying Face Scrub and Natio Ageless Skin Renewal Exfoliator</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather 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