Rules for Nanomaterials? Position of the German Chemical Industry (VCI)

Nanomaterials bring manifold chances to benefit humans and the environment, because frequently they have novel mechanical, optical, electrical and thermal properties. Thus, they open up interesting applications in the fields of carmaking, energy, information and communication, textile, construction, paints and pharma. Some 80 percent of future nano-applications will be in energy generation and use, climate protection and resource conservation.

Promote innovation In order to use the innovative potential of nanotechnology in its many forms, the German federal government and the federal states should continue to promote science and research at a high level. Apply existing regulation - no new specific regulation for nanomaterials There should be no new specific rules for nanomaterials, because this would lead to duplicate regulation. Appropriate clarifications and precisions for nanomaterials in the annexes to the REACH Regulation are supported. The VCI rejects additional labelling requirements and product inventories, including relevant notification requirements. For more transparency at EU level, the VCI is favourable of the "nano observatory" planned by the EU Commission – where the European chemicals agency ECHA will bring together existing data stocks. Definition and regulation need to match Before linking concrete legal consequences with the EU definition of nanomaterials, the EU Commission should initially find out which currently marketed products fall under this definition within existing regulation. Suitable methods should be determined for the measurement of nanomaterials in the monitoring of compliance with relevant legal provisions.

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