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European Parliament calls for product labelling and ‘no data, no market’-principles

Published: Wednesday 29 April 2009

The European Parliament has adopted an own-initiative report from its Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), which calls for stronger regulation of nanomaterials, including the provision of information to consumers on the use of nanomaterials in consumer products: ‘all ingredients present in the form of nanomaterials in substances, mixtures or articles should be clearly indicated in the labelling of the product (e.g. in the list of ingredients, the name of such ingredients should be followed by the word 'nano' in brackets)’.

 

The report notes the following:

  1. ‘[...] the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies (hereinafter referred to as "nanomaterials") promises important advances with multiple benefits in innumerable applications for consumers, patients and the environment, as nanomaterials can provide different or new properties compared to the same substance or material in normal form;
  2. [...] the advances in nanomaterials are expected to have significant influence on policy decisions in the fields of public health, employment, occupational safety and health, information society, energy, transport, security and space,
    [...]
  1. [...] the safe development of nanomaterials can make an important contribution to the competitiveness of the European Union's economy and to the achievement of the Lisbon strategy,
    [...]
  1. [...] clear notification requirements on the use of nanomaterials, information to consumers as well as full enforcement of Directive 2006/114/EC are necessary to provide reliable information on the use of nanomaterials,
    [...]
  1. [...]  the almost infinite application of nanotechnologies to such diverse sectors as electronics, textiles, biomedicals, personal care products, cleaning products, food or energy makes it impossible to introduce a single regulatory framework at Community level,
    [...]
  1. [...] the Code of Conduct is an essential instrument for safe, integrated and responsible research in nanomaterials; whereas the Code of Conduct must be adopted and respected by all producers intending to manufacture or place goods on the market,
  2. [...] the review of all relevant Community legislation should implement the principle "no data, no market" for nanomaterials,’

 

Supported by a majority of 391 votes in favour, 3 against and 4 abstentions, the House calls:

  1. [...] for the introduction of a comprehensive science-based definition of nanomaterials in Community legislation as part of nano-specific amendments to relevant horizontal and sectoral legislation;
    [...]

 

The House calls ‘specifically on the Commission to evaluate the need to review REACH concerning inter alia:

  • simplified registration for nanomaterials manufactured or imported below one tonne,
  • consideration of all nanomaterials as new substances,
  • a chemical safety report with exposure assessment for all registered nanomaterials,
  • notification requirements for all nanomaterials placed on the market on their own, in preparations or in articles; [...].’

The House furthermore calls ‘on the Commission to compile before June 2011 an inventory of the different types and uses of nanomaterials on the European market, while respecting justified commercial secrets such as recipes, and to make this inventory publicly available; furthermore calls on the Commission to report on the safety of these nanomaterials at the same time; [...].’

Follow these links to read the own-initiative report (text adopted on the 24th April 2009), to find out more about the ENVI Initiative Paper on nanomaterials, or to find out more about the rules on ‘own-initiative’ reports. 

 
Related Links:
The European Commission has launched a Public Consultation to prepare for a one-day Scientific Hearing on Nanotechnology, which will take place on 10 September 2009 in Brussels. (20th April 2009)
 
The European Parliament Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) has voted to amend and adopt an own-initiative Report on the regulatory aspects of nanomaterials (PE418.270v01-00; Rapporteur: Carl Schlyter). (2nd April 2009)
 
Just one day after agreeing on legislative measures for nanomaterials in cosmetics, the European Parliament has voted in favour of a report dealing with an update of the EU rules on novel foods, which also proposes special treatment of nanoparticles and nanomaterials. With 658 votes in favour, 15 against and 11 abstentions , the MEPs adopted a number of amendments to the Novel Foods Regulation on the topic of ‘nano’, including the following. (26th March 2009)
 
The European Parliament approved the amended recast of the EU Cosmetics Directive, introducing the mention of ‘nanomaterials’ into an EU legislation. (25th March 2009)