MARCH 25, 2015
The Environmental Protection Agency on March 25 unveiled two precedent-setting regulatory moves on nanomaterials.
The Environmental Protection Agency on March 25 unveiled two precedent-setting regulatory moves on nanomaterials.
First, the agency will require registration under the federal
pesticides law of products containing nanoscale silver that are designed
to control microbes. EPA will not, however, classify all nanosilver
products as pesticides, the agency says in a response to a 2008 petition
from activist groups that are seeking stronger regulation of
nanomaterials. The agency indicated it would not immediately act against
unregistered antimicrobial nanosilver products, such as socks, now sold in the U.S.
Second, EPA separately proposed
a one-time requirement for makers of nanoscale commercial chemicals
currently on the market to notify the agency about all available health
and safety data for their products. Under this Toxic Substances Control
Act proposal, these manufacturers would also have to submit production
volume and processing, use, exposure, and release information to EPA.