Nanomaterials Regulations Present Challenges

coatings sector by introducing their own regulations,

A growing
number of EU
governments are
posing problems
for the European
which are
threatening to
by Sean Milmo
European Correspondent
milmocw@rodmanmedia.com
undermine the
single market.

Despite the current slowdown in the European economy, the region’s regu- lators have not been easing up on the application of health, safety and environmental rules in the markets for coatings and its raw materials. Even new rules are being introduced to make compliance tougher for coatings producers and their suppliers.

The regulatory challenge for the coatings sector has tended to come from European Union legislation whose main objective is to ensure that the EU’s single market in products and services is not hampered by trade barriers.

However, a growing number of EU governments are posing problems for the European coating sector by introducing their own regulations, which are threatening to undermine the single market.

The main objective of these regulations is the control of nanomaterials whose safety has been an issue of growing concern among NGOs, politicians and some groups of consumers in Europe.

But these national initiatives are worrying some European coatings companies and their raw material suppliers that have become technological leaders in the application of nanomaterials.

The European Commission, the EU’s Brussels-based executive that is responsible for putting forward EU legislation for approval by the European Parliament and the governments