Brussels, 28/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 24 April the European Parliament adopted the own-initiative report of Carl Schlyter (Greens/EFA, Sweden) on the regulatory aspects of nano-technologies, and subsequently launched an appeal for greater prudence when introducing products onto the market that contain nano-particles. MEPs deplored the absence of provisions and specific tests for nano-materials and called for European legislation to be revised in an effort to guarantee safer and more responsible use of these materials.
MEPs contest the European Commission's declarations affirming that current legislation covers the risks linked to nano-materials. According to MEPs, nano-materials present significant new risks due to their minute size, such as increased reactivity and mobility, possibly leading to increased toxicity in combination with unrestricted access to the human body, and possibly involving quite different mechanisms of interference with the physiology of human and animal species. These risks have not been verified due to the lack absence of tests into nano-technologies.
MEPs point out that Community legislation does not include specific provisions on nano-materials. They are therefore calling on the Commission to review all legislation to guarantee safety in all nano-materials applications on the basis of the “no data, no market” principle. They are also calling for a possible review of the REACH directive, as well as legislation on waste and the protection of workers. MEPs called for a clear and scientific definition of the term, “nano-technology”.
MEPs affirmed that many products containing nano-materials were already on the market and called for these products to be clearly labelled. They also said that products containing a risk to health should not be allowed onto the market.
Another problem is linked to the absence of test methods for checking the effects of different nano-materials. This is why Parliament believes it necessary to develop reliable methods to evaluate the risks of different nano-materials during their life-cycles. MEPs also requested legislation to be underpinned by an ethical approach, particularly with regard to the medical use of nano-technologies.
Parliament has called on the Commission to create an inventory of the different kinds of nano-materials by June 2011. Manufacturers who want to put nano-materials onto the market should be both duty-bound and abide by a code conduct for responsible nano-sciences and nano-technology research. (O.L./trans/rh)