Legislation
Governments at all levels have recognized the importance of the marine debris issue by creating policies, laws, and regulations to address it. While some legislation may still be proposed or in process, this site provides a list of finalized legislative documents related to marine debris.
Amendments: Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2012, Title VI
Included are amendments to the Marine Debris Research, Prevention,
and Reduction Act of 2006, otherwise known as the Marine Debris Act.
Revised MARPOL Annex V
Adopted in July of 2011, this document contains amendments to Annex V
of the protocol of 1978, relating to the International Convention for
the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.
United States Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015
The United States bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act to ban rinse-off cosmetics that contain intentionally-added
plastic microbeads beginning on January 1, 2018, and to ban
manufacturing of these cosmetics beginning on July 1, 2017. These bans
are delayed by one year for cosmetics that are over-the-counter drugs.
Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is authorized by Congress to work on
marine debris through the Marine Debris Act, signed into law in 2006
and amended in 2012.
Save Our Seas Act of 2018
Title I of the Save our Seas Act of 2018 amends the Marine Debris Act
of 2012 and reauthorizes the NOAA Marine Debris Program.