"Need to regulate the use of nanomaterials"

The Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) proposes a regulation of the use of nanomaterials in a report to the Swedish government.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) presented the report Safe Use of Nanomaterials – Need for Regulation and Other Measures to the Government on 25 February 2010.

- Nanotechnology may bring major technical advances in the long term in a number of areas and provide the basis for example for better medicines, lower energy use and more effective treatment of air and water. The challenge is to maximise the benefit and at the same time ensure a high level of protection for health and the environment, says Ethel Forsberg, Director-General of the Swedish Chemicals Agency, in a press release.

In the report, KemI reviews the protection provided by existing legislation and proposes several measures, including the following:

• Sweden should press for health and environmental aspects with regard to nanomaterials to be addressed in the EU's forthcoming action plan for nanotechnology.
• Earmark more funding for studies on the risks posed by nanomaterials to health and the environment, both from Swedish research funders and in the EU’s research framework programme.
• Introduce a requirement to notify products containing nanomaterials in the EU.
• Conduct a review of the rules contained in the REACH and CLP Regulations and if necessary adapt them so that they can be applied to nanomaterials.
• Devise an internationally accepted definition of nanomaterials and test methods for nanomaterials.

Read the press release >>

English summary of the report >>

The full report in Swedish >>