European Union Legislation Addressing Environment, Health and Safety Aspects of Nanomaterials

An overview is provided of how European Union (EU) legislation addresses the safety of nanomaterials and micro(nano)plastics. The chemicals legislation supports the EU environmental policy and consists of an overarching framework, complemented with sector-specific legislation addressing specific uses of certain chemicals. Environmental legislation addressing quality of water, soil, air and waste does not address nanomaterials specifically. The European Commission has adopted a recommendation for the definition of ‘nanomaterial’, now used in some chemicals legislation. All legal definitions of nanomaterials are based on particle size (usually between 1 and 100 nm). Substances, including nanomaterials, that cannot be used safely or have certain undesired effects, can only be used under specific conditions, if at all. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development developed global test methods for identifying regulatory relevant properties. Micro(nano)plastics still need to be defined in most legal contexts. Micro(nano)plastics in the environment often originate from degradation of released larger pieces of plastic. The EU plastics strategy seeks to limit the environmental release of plastic, e.g. through limiting the use of single-use plastic products, and a future ban of intentionally added micro(nano)plastics in products. The Drinking Water Directive requires the adoption of a methodology to measure microplastics by 2024.