Recommendations for the safer development of nanotechnology for the EU's REACH regulation implementation

A joint statement by several European environmental and consumer organizations calling for a comprehensive revision of the EU's legal framework to address the specific risks of nanomaterials, arguing that current REACH and CLP regulations fail to account for the distinct properties of nanoforms compared to bulk substances.

• The authors argue that nanomaterials possess different intrinsic properties and higher reactivity than their bulk counterparts, which increases the risk of harmful impacts. They request that this distinction be explicitly established in the Classification Labeling and Packaging (CLP) and REACH regulations, and that REACH registration thresholds for nanomaterials be lowered.
• The statement calls for all nanomaterials produced in quantities exceeding 10kg/year to be registered with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) by 2018 using a full registration dossier specific to the nanoform. It further proposes that these dossiers include a chemical safety assessment and meet the same information submission requirements as substances classified as Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic (CMRs).
• The authors highlight a failure in current registration, noting that only nine substances were registered as nanomaterials six years after REACH registration requirements began, despite a larger number of such substances being on the EU market. They call for ECHA to systematically check compliance for all nanoforms and for the Community Roling Action Plan (CoRAP) list to include all identified substances in nanoform.
• To ensure public transparency and the right to make informed choices, the statement demands the creation of a European-level publicly accessible inventory of nanomaterials and consumer products containing them. It also calls for specific nano-labelling or declaration requirements for products such as paints, aerosols, detergents, sprays, and medical devices, supplementing existing rules for biocides, cosmetics, and food.
• The authors advocate for the strict implementation of the "no data, no market" principle, suggesting that nanomaterials lacking a minimum set of data for hazard and risk assessment should be denied market access. They urge EU Member States and manufacturers to adopt a precautionary approach regarding the disposal, use, production, and assessment of nanomaterials.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2014). Recommendations for the safer development of nanotechnology for the EU's REACH regulation implementation. https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-partners-publish-recommendations-for-the-safer-development-of-nanotechnology-for-the-eus-reach-regulation-implementation/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Recommendations for the safer development of nanotechnology for the EU's REACH regulation implementation. 2014. https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-partners-publish-recommendations-for-the-safer-development-of-nanotechnology-for-the-eus-reach-regulation-implementation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Recommendations for the safer development of nanotechnology for the EU's REACH regulation implementation |date=1 April 2014 |url=https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-partners-publish-recommendations-for-the-safer-development-of-nanotechnology-for-the-eus-reach-regulation-implementation/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2014recommendations, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Recommendations for the safer development of nanotechnology for the EU's REACH regulation implementation}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2014}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ciel.org/news/ciel-partners-publish-recommendations-for-the-safer-development-of-nanotechnology-for-the-eus-reach-regulation-implementation/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }