European NGOs Publish Position Paper on the Regulation of Nanomaterials

Earlier this month, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and its European partners published a position paper on the regulation of nanomaterials at a meeting of the European Union (EU) competent authorities. According to the position paper, current EU legislation “does not guarantee that all nanomaterials on the market are safe by being assessed separately from the bulk form of the substance.” The position paper asks the European Commission (EC) to produce “concrete proposals for a comprehensive revision of the existing legal framework addressing the potential risks of nanomaterials.” The position paper states that:

1. Nanomaterials are different from other substances;
2. Risk from nanomaterials must be assessed;
3. Nanomaterials should be thoroughly evaluated;
4. Information on nanomaterials must be collected and disseminated; and
5. Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) enforcement activities should tackle nanomaterials.