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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001720 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/ERA KESSLER, MCCUSKER 
STATE FOR NSC KVIEN 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/EUR/OEU/DEFALCO 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAS/OCG/JFERMAN 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAS/OTEC/RBLANKENBAKER 
USDA FOR FAS/OSTA FROGGETT 
USDA FOR FAS/OCRA NENON 
STATE PASS TO OMB FOR BECK, MANCINI 
STATE PASS TO OSTP TO TRAVIS EARLES 
STATE PASS TO USTR TO LESLIE YANG, CHRIS WILSON 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EIND ETRD SENV EUR ECON TPHY TSPL EUN
SUBJECT: NO SMALL PROGRESS: UPDATE ON NANOTECH REGULATION IN THE EU 
 
BRUSSELS 00001720  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: While the European Commission continues to maintain 
that it's Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals 
(REACH) regulation provides a sufficient framework for the 
regulation of nanomaterials in the EU market, a number of directives 
and legislation single out nanomaterials for specific regulatory 
oversight.  Driven by the views of some Members of the European 
Parliament (MEPs) that REACH does not adequately address 
nanotechnology and emerging technologies, the European Parliament 
has taken the initiative.  This cable briefly outlines this 
legislative action.  As the USG sorts out its own views on how to 
regulate nanotechnology, it should seek to work with European 
regulators at the earliest opportunity to avoid asynchronous 
regulation and potential regulatory divergences that may lead to 
barriers to trade. 
END SUMMARY 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2. (U) On April 24, 2009, the European Parliament (EP) adopted a 
report that urged the European Commission (EC) to "completely 
overhaul" all regulations related to nanomaterials within two years, 
treating all nanomaterials as new substances, and to better take 
into account the risks associated with nanotechnology.  The report 
also called for labeling of nanomaterials in all products, and for 
better safeguards for workers handling nanomaterials. While the 
report was non-binding, MEPs sympathetic to the report made it clear 
they would propose amendments related to nanotechnology as 
appropriate regulations and directives came to Parliament. 
 
¶3. (U) In response, the Commission, via its second report on the 
implementation of its 2005-2009 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 
Action Plan (http://ec.europa.eu/nanotechnology/policies_ en.html), 
reiterated its position that existing regulatory frameworks, 
including REACH, covered nanotechnology "in principle", and 
suggested consumer and workplace safety would be best enhanced "by 
improving implementation of current legislation."  But the 
Commission also pledged that it would, by 2011, review and "assess 
the adequacy of existing legislation", taking into account the 
"specific points raised by Parliament."   The Commission also 
acknowledged that, "at Parliament's request, specific provisions in 
relation to nanomaterials have been introduced or are being 
considered for legislation on cosmetics, novel food and food 
additives." 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
COSMETICS: NANO DEFINED AND TO BE REGISTERED AND LABELED 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4.(U) The Regulation on Cosmetic Products 
(http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/cosme tics/ 
documents/directive/), was adopted by the European Parliament March 
24, 2009 and will enter into effect in March, 2012.  The regulation 
is a simplification of the existing Directive and its 50 amendments, 
but in its new iteration it contains significant nano-related 
content.  It defines a nanomaterial as "an insoluble or 
biopersistant and intentionally manufactured material with one or 
more external dimensions, or an internal structure, on the scale 
from 1 to 100 nm".  The regulation calls for cosmetic products 
containing nanomaterials to be notified to the Commission six months 
prior to being placed on the market.  It mandates a registry of 
nanomaterials used in cosmetics.  On labeling, the regulation 
requires all ingredients present in the form of nanomaterials to be 
clearly indicated in the list of ingredients, with the names of 
these ingredients followed by the word "nano" in brackets. At this 
time industry representatives in Brussels tell us they do not have 
significant concerns with the notification, public registry and 
labeling requirements.  However, industry generally was disappointed 
the European regulation included a definition and got out in front 
on the international cooperation on cosmetic regulation process that 
was working on a more internationally accepted definition for the 
industry. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
NOVEL FOODS: DITTO, BUT FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) The revised Novel Foods Regulation 
 
BRUSSELS 00001720  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
(http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biotechnology/ 
novelfood/index_en.htm) is a work in progress, awaiting its second 
reading before Parliament, expected in February, 2010, although work 
has been slowed due to a disagreement among commissioners regarding 
the inclusion of cloned animals in the legislation.  Novel foods are 
defined by the regulation as "those which have not been consumed to 
any significant degree in the EU before May 1997, when the first 
legislation on novel foods was established. These can be newly 
developed products, such as foods produced by new production 
processes like nanotechnology, but also food that has been consumed 
traditionally in third countries, outside the EU."  The text defines 
nanomaterials as "intentionally manufactured materials with one or 
more external dimensions or an internal structure, of order of 100 
nm or less."  It, too, has a labeling provision for nano consistent 
with the requirements in the Cosmetics regulation, and also calls 
for Community-approved specific risk assessment methods prior to the 
products being placed on the market. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
REGULATION ON LABELING: NO NANO DEFINITION, BUT LINKED TO NOVEL 
FOODS 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶6. (U) In a separate, but related, piece of legislation, the 
Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers 
(http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/labellingnutri tion/ 
foodlabelling/proposed_legislation_en.htm), the Commission seeks to 
combine Directive 2000/13/EC on the Labeling, Presentation and 
Advertising of Foodstuffs and Council Directive 90/496/EEC on 
Nutrition Labeling for Foodstuffs into one instrument which will 
apply to all foods, whether novel or not.  While it does not define 
nanomaterials, this proposal provides definitions for labeling, 
packaging, and ingredients, but will be likely be linked to the 
Novel Foods Regulation through the latter's definition of nano and 
attendant labeling requirements.  The Regulation on Labeling also 
calls for labeling of nano ingredients for products containing 
nanomaterials.  The European Parliament's Environment Committee is 
expected to adopt its report at first reading in March at the 
earliest, followed by the vote in plenary in May or June. 
 
---------------------------- 
REGULATION ON FOOD ADDITIVES 
---------------------------- 
 
7.(U)  The Regulation on Food Additives 
(http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety / 
additives/prop_leg_en.htm) updates and simplifies current EU 
legislation regarding food additives and enters into force January, 
¶2010.  The regulation states that when there is a significant change 
in the production methods or in the starting materials used for food 
additives already on the Community list of approved food additives, 
"or there is a change in particle size, for example through 
nanotechnology, the food additive prepared by those new methods or 
materials shall be considered as a different additive and a new 
entry in the Community lists or a change in the specifications shall 
be required before it can be placed on the market."  There are no 
definitions of nanomaterials, nor calls for their labeling, in this 
regulation. 
 
---------------------------------- 
REACH: THE GREAT UNKNOWN, NANOWISE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) There are no provisions in REACH 
(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/re ach/ reach_intro.htm 
)referring specifically to nanomaterials.  A Commission 
communication published in June said that since REACH deals with 
substances, in whatever size, shape or physical state, substances at 
nanoscale level are therefore covered and its provisions apply. 
However, Parliament critics of this view point to the minimum 
tonnage called for under REACH --substances and chemicals 
manufactured in or imported into the EU in quantities of one metric 
ton or more per year per company-and claim that nanosubstances in 
and of themselves would likely not reach the minimum.  The 
Commission is currently drafting updated guidance, expected in early 
¶2010.  While REACH entered into force in June, 2007, its 
registration provisions, and thus its ability to capture 
nanomaterials as substances, do not kick in until December, 2010. 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00001720  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶9. (U) The Classification, Labeling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation 
which complements REACH, updates EU regulations on classification, 
labeling, and packaging of chemical substances, and entered into 
effect January, 2009.  The regulation provides a general framework 
for the classification, labeling, and inventorying of "substances 
with different forms and properties", but does not mention 
nanomaterials directly. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
¶10. (U) The EU is moving forward on defining and regulating 
nanomaterials in a process largely driven by the Parliament.  While 
there is no unified business community position on the process, 
industry is closely monitoring the sector specific legislation in 
the EU and developments in Parliament, Council and Commission.   The 
time is ripe for increased USG engagement, with both the Parliament 
and the Commission, to shape emerging regulations in a manner that 
minimizes future transatlantic trade barriers. 
 
KENNARD