Nanomaterials & REACH
In its simplest terms; nanotechnology is “engineering on a very small scale”. Nanotechnology deals with dimensions less than 1 micron. In other words, nanotechnology is the applied science of designing, developing and characterizing devices and materials at the molecular level. It is a revolutionary technology that is presently making a significant contribution to industry.
The European Commission is expected to submit its nanomaterials impact assessment proposal for potential amendments to the REACH Annex this summer.
Despite continuous debate about health and environmental concerns, nanomaterials are already widely used in various industries such as cosmetics, textiles or food. The current regulation requires registration only when importing or manufacturing more than 1 tonne per year or a given substance. A full chemical safety assessment is instead required only above 10tonnes per year. However, due to their peculiar nature, this threshold is often not reached by nanomaterials, thus raising the concern of some NGOs. The proposal is expected to address some of these issues.
The outcome may have a significant impact for the industry and also for ECHA’s nanomaterials work plan. Suggested amendment options from the consultation held in November included clarification of registration requirements and measurements to overcome the lacking information in regards to nanomaterials.
