Experts urge more caution on nanomaterials

The REACH regime should take a more precautionary approach to nanomaterials, according to the German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU). It also wants these to be labelled, and new product authorisation and registration systems.

The recommendations are included in a lengthy review of Germany's regulatory approach to nanomaterials, released by the SRU on Thursday. The council, made up of seven environmental experts, advises the German government.

German and EU law already requires a precautionary approach to new technologies, the report notes. This is particularly important for nanotechnology, which offers novel risks and is developing faster than the methods used to test its safety.

The EU executive is reviewing the treatment of nanomaterials under REACH as part of a wider review of the regime. The SRU wants to see nanoparticles registered separately, even if registrations already exist for the bulk version of the same substances.

The experts also want a lower threshold to apply, requiring registration of nanoparticles made or imported into the EU in quantities below one tonne a year, and chemical safety assessment of any substance of theoretical concern.

Companies that manufacture and use nanomaterials should be automatically brought under environmental permitting laws to minimise pollution risks and a notification system considered for manufacturers, the SRU suggests.

It adds the use of nanomaterials in sensitive products such as cosmetics should be subject to authorisation. A semi-public register for products containing manufactured nanoparticles should also be established. German environment minister Norbert Röttgen has already said he favours a product register.

The SRU also wants products labelled to show they contain nanomaterials. And the definition of a nanoparticle, currently under debate at EU level, should be extended to include larger particles measuring up to 300 nanometres.

On Thursday, green group BUND called for nano-silver to be banned from consumer goods until more information is available on its health and environmental effects.

Follow Up:

Full SRU report (in German), executive summary plus conclusions and recommendations (in English). See also BUND press release (in German).