Cosmetics industry leads the way in European nanomaterial reporting

The report focused on the key concerns of labelling and reporting schemes for consumer goods which use nanomaterials in their formulation.

Currently, according to the Joint Research Centre (JRC) who published the report, only the cosmetics industry has a system of mandatory reporting of products which contain nanomaterials: it proposes rolling out this demand across the board.

Present legislation demands only that products declare any nanomaterials in their listed ingredients, with the word ‘nano’ listed in brackets alongside the material in question.

Cosmetics taking the lead​

Although some manufacturers also add voluntary notes indicating the presence of nanomaterials in such products, the report suggests there’s room for wider transparency on the issue.

The JRC suggests a register for all such products will allow the industries, regulators and consumers a better overview of nanomaterial application in consumer goods than is currently available.  

It notes that "only mandatory reporting/labelling of products containing nanomaterials can assure accurate and comprehensive information​."

Continent-wide​

The JRC notes that some EU Member States (France, Belgium, and Denmark) already have or are introducing mandatory reporting schemes for many consumer products.

The new report observes though that a large group of EU Member States, including those already mentioned and also Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden, would prefer a unified continent-wide register.

“Harmonised procedures are needed to avoid trade barriers and unfair commercial practices,” ​the reporting body stated.

The report is available to download freely from the EC website.