RPA’s report for the European Union Observatory on Nanomaterials has been published!

A study commissioned by the EU nanomaterials observatory has found that the current EU regulatory framework for characterising and identifying “next generation” nanomaterials is able to address the majority of them and that no significant changes will be needed in the near future.

The study looked into “next generation” nanomaterials and whether the current terminology used in the EU chemicals regulations, as well as the implementation of the current legal requirements for identifying nanomaterials, are likely to pose technical challenges for these “next generation” materials.

The findings indicate that although the regulatory framework is well-equipped to handle these materials in the near future, further guidance would benefit companies registering nanomaterials under the REACH Regulation. The study goes on to propose further clarifications for some parameters characterising both nanomaterials and their uses and that the guidelines on how to determine whether an object is an article under the REACH Regulation could be complemented with specific examples of different nanomaterials, from simple nanoparticles to more complex assembly structures.

You can find the full study here.