Oct. 4 EU: Greens, consumer groups rap Commission for nanomaterials report

This article is brought to you by EurActiv concerning a EU Commission report on nanomaterials.

The European Commission came under fire from Greens and consumer groups yesterday (3 October) for a report on nanotechnology, which stopped short of proposing specific EU regulation.

Nanotechnology, the Commission said, was currently covered by REACH chemicals legislation, which it described as the “best framework” for dealing with its use and effects. The Commission said it expected to modify some of the REACH annexes to include nanomaterials.

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) said the Commission report confirmed the “EU regulatory framework works for nanomaterials”, and ensured these can be safely produced and used by companies and consumers”.

The Greens in the European Parliament criticised the Commission for “dragging its feet” in nanomaterials regulation in a statement. The group said the Parliament had underlined “clear deficiencies” in reviews of existing legislation.

“The Commission has dodged the key issue by comparing nanomaterials with normal substances on the sole basis that not all nanomaterials may be toxic”, said Carl Schlyter, a Swedish MEP and Greens environment and public health spokesperson.

For more information and the full article please refer to the link above. For the original EU Commission report refer to Oct. 3 post.