In an article published on August 16, 2017 by the non-profit organization Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), senior scientist Jennifer Sass reports on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule on nanomaterials reporting, which was issued by the agency in January 2017 (FPF reported). The final rule became effective on August 14, 2017 and the EPA has published a dedicated working guidance.
Sass highlights that the final rule closed several loopholes present in the originally proposed rule. Nanoclays, zinc oxide, and nanocellulose are no longer exempted from the reporting requirements. “This means EPA and the public will now have more information to make informed regulatory decisions about these materials,” Sass states. EPA rejected industry demands “for a volume cut off below which no reporting would have been required,” as well as requests “to exempt naturally occurring nanomaterials from reporting requirements.” Further, chemical substances manufactured as part of a film on a surface are no longer exempted from the reporting rule.
Sass deems the final nano-reporting rule as “a win for scientific transparency and public disclosure.” However, the final rule does not regulate or restrict nanomaterials use, Sass notes. “Therefore, EPA must use the information it collects under this rule to inform policies that will protect human health and the environment from harmful exposures to these small-sized chemicals,” she recommends.
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Jennifer Sass (August 16, 2017). “EPA rule on nanotechnology reporting is good news.” NRDC
