The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), an organization funded by the European Community, has issued a policy brief that calls on European bodies to establish a registry of nanomaterial-containing articles. The brief states: “Better comprehensive data is urgently needed to improve knowledge of what is on the market, who is exposed and what should be regulated. Member States welcome such inventories and have developed their own initiatives while at the same time exhorting the European Commission to step in on the process. Achieving harmonisation of the national initiatives is crucial, for proper regulation is needed to ensure proper protection of human and environmental health, as well as an adequate level of risk management.” The debate concerning a regulatory framework for nanotechnologies has been ongoing for nearly a decade, says the ETUI, and remains on the political agenda because stakeholder discussions with regulatory bodies over the supply of information on nanomaterials is basically deadlocked. The paper provides an overview of the different approaches taken in European countries regarding traceability of these substances, while at the same time noting that some form of coordination is essential. The policy brief concludes by saying that “Reliance on the current safety and precautionary approaches and the very little information available are not enough – accurate data are urgently needed. Nanomaterial traceability is not just about tracing products or recording information; it also plays into health and safety and market surveillance. It can deliver specific objectives like supporting manufacturers who take responsibility for their products. For Europe, responsible nanotechnology innovation involves putting enforcement into practice.”
http://www.etui.org/en/Publications