Search news
Most searched tags
NIA speaks up for nanomaterials in cosmetics
Published: Tuesday 24 March 2009
In preparation of the upcoming European Parliament debate on the recast of the European Cosmetics Directive, German Tagesschau (News) published the reprint of a radio interview (HR) with the responsible European Parliament rapporteur Dagmar Roth-Behrens (German Social Democrats (SPD)) and Steffi Friedrichs, Director of the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA).
MEP Roth-Behrens, who, according to the interviewer, has long been calling for appropriate safety measures on the European level, explains her opinion with regard to the treatment of nanomaterials under the recast of the European Cosmetics Directive as a measure, which acknowledges the potential benefit of nanotechnologies, whilst learning from experiences: ‘What we say here is: you are allowed to do research – we think that is good! – we do want new technologies and we also want sun creams that are easy to apply. But we also want to be sure that nothing migrates.’
Dr Steffi Friedrichs has answers to the concerns raised by the MEP: ‘Numerous studies conducted under relevant conditions have shown that particles of titanium dioxid, a naturally occurring mineral, used in sun creams, do not migrate through the skin.’ She furthermore refers to studies (conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration) that have gone to the extreme of intravenously injecting the particles into the bloodstream: ‘No toxic effect have been observed.’
Follow these links to find out more about the recast of the European Cosmetics Directive, to read a transcript of the interview (in German).
Related Links:
European Parliament to vote on a definition, notification and labelling of nanomaterials in cosmetics
Parallel to the ongoing debate and vote on the revision of the European Novel Foods Regulation, the European Parliament is scheduled to decide about the regulation of nanomaterials in cosmetics on the 24th and 25th March 2009. (20th March 2009)