U.S. Bill Directs FDA to Study Microplastics
A July 17, 2025 bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rick Scott (R-FL) and Representatives Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Greg Steube (FL-17) titled the Microplastics Safety Act, would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study the human health impacts of exposure to microplastics in food and water and present its findings in a report for Congress.
In a press release about the bill, Representative Bynum stated that, “[w]e’ve got to get a handle on how microplastics are getting in our food, beverages, and everyday items, and figure out how they’re affecting our health.”
The three-page bill mandates that FDA’s study shall:
- Identify the major pathways of human exposure to microplastics;
- Study the impact of microplastics on children’s health, the endocrine system, cancer, chronic illness, and reproductive health; and
- Address other areas of importance.
FDA’s report is due within one year of enactment of the Act, and it should include recommendations for legislative or administrative actions.