For a long time, the experts of quality water are facing challenges in controlling a variety of conventional and non-conventional pollutants and toxic components that are high threat that can harm aquatic life in water bodies and the human health. The micro beads are of rising concern that are responsible for damaging the environment. Microbeads are synthetic particles mainly used in personal care products such as facial scrubs, shampoos, soaps, lip gloss, toothpaste. The reason why they are such a threat and area of concern because microbeads are smaller than 5 micrometres in size that most wastewater treatment plant technology does not hold the ability to remove it from the waste steam.
Factual Background
Australia has planned …show more content…
Australia can argue that the products with microbeads and product without microbeads are not “like” products, as the natural ingredients which are less or not harmful, are replaced with micro beads that enter oceans and water bodies carrying toxic on the surface of the beads and are consumed by fishes and marine life contaminating the food chain. The Appellate Body report, after the much debated EC-Asbestos case, has shed light on the interpretation of the “necessity test” of the Article XX (b), Article XX (g) and the chapeau.
(b) ‘Necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health’
(g) ‘relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources if such measures are made effective in conjunction with restrictions on domestic production or consumption; …show more content…
The WTO is likely to give judgement based on whether the value of trade is more important than the value of aquatic life and marine life, also to what extent the environment is being sacrificed.
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