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February 13, 2017

Nanomaterials Inventory for Cosmetics Will Be Published “in the Next Weeks”

Lynn L. Bergeson Carla N. Hutton

ClientEarth published a January 11, 2017, blog item entitled “Three-year wait for nanomaterial risk data promised ‘in the next weeks.’”  Under the Cosmetics Directive, the European Commission (EC) was to publish by January 11, 2014, an inventory of nanomaterials used in cosmetic products on the European Union market.  The EC has postponed publication of the inventory several times, due to the allegedly poor quality of the information it received from industry.  ClientEarth requested access to the information in June 2014, and the EC responded that the inventory would be published “in the next few weeks.”  The non-governmental organization sent a second request in December 2016.  The EC responded:  “The catalogue of nanomaterials used in cosmetics will be published on our website . . . in the next weeks, so we kindly ask for some patience.”  ClientEarth requested clarification from the unit responsible for cosmetics.  Their answer, according to ClientEarth, was:  “There are ongoing discussions at a higher level within the Commission.  At this stage no specific date can be indicated for the publication.”