Nano technology and environmental health regulation for chemical companies

A draft European Commission regulation amending European Union (EU) chemical control system REACH is to insist that chemical manufacturers using nanoparticles must consider the special potential environmental health impact of using them in their products.
These proposals have been backed by the European Chemical Agency’s (ECHA) REACH committee. The new regulation says that any different nanoforms covered by a REACH registered chemical “should be considered by the registrant in the demonstration of safety”. Moreover, information on manufacture, uses of and exposure to “different nanoforms should be provided separately to demonstrate their safe use”. Under the draft, chemical companies, which could include paint and coating companies, would have to comply with the new rules by January 1, 2020.