Colipa Scientist Calls for ‘nanomaterial’ definition

Dr Gerald Renner from Colipa has called for a common definition of the term ‘nanomaterial’ at a conference in Brussels on regulation of nanotechnology.

Leading figures from industry, regulators and consumer groups gathered at the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) nanotechnology conference to discuss safety concerns, consumer attitudes and regulation.

Need for a definition

Talking at the conference about what regulatory moves remain to be taken, Colipa’s Director of Science and Research Dr Gerald Renner said a
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EU Nanoparticle Legislation Should be Exported to US

“Small may well be beautiful but to protect public safety and prevent a consumer backlash the US should adopt European style rules on nanomaterials,” says Guy Montague-Jones of Cosmeticsdesign-europe.com.

In March the EU amended the Cosmetics Directive to implement stricter requirements for nanomaterials, including mandatory listing of nanomaterial ingredients used for certain purposes on cosmetic packaging and the requirement for manufacturers to inform the EU Commission six months prior to product launch if they intend on using nanomaterials in a formulation, Read more

Nanoparticles in Cosmetics May Harm Environment

Using aquatic microbes as their “canary-in-a-cage,” scientists from Ohio today reported that nanoparticles now being added to cosmetics, sunscreens, and hundreds of other personal care products may be harmful to the environment.

Their report was part of symposia that included almost two dozen papers at the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society where scientists grappled to understand the environmental and human health effects of nanotechnology. Hundreds of products utilizing these microscopic particles — 1/5,000th the diameter of a human hair — already are on the Read more

US Advisor Talks About Nanotech Regulation

J. Clarence (Terry) Davies, Senior Advisor to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies and Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future, is one of the foremost authorities on environmental research and policy. Here he talks about the regulation of nanotechnology.

Q: Do you think governments are doing enough to protect consumers from the potential health risks associated with nanomaterials, especially with regards to cosmetic products? If not what kind of regulatory framework do you think they should put into place?
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MEP Calls for Greater Nanotech Regulation

Concerns about the impact of nanotechnology on our health and the environment are prompting calls for stricter regulation in the European Union. The European Parliament is assembling a draft report in relation to the regulation of nanomaterials. The report  suggests that

“nanomaterials…potentially present significant new risks due to their minute size, such as increased reactivity and mobility, possibly leading to increased toxicity in combination with unrestricted access to the human body… The current discussion about nanomaterials is characterised by many contradictions or even paradoxes, with disagreement and thus political
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