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Does REACH go too far?

Nature Nanotechnology volume 2, pages 525–526 (2007)Cite this article

Uncertainties in new regulations that cover the manufacture, importation and production of chemicals in the European Union could make it more difficult to commercialize nanotechnology.

Having entered into force on 1 June 2007, this new regulatory regime — which runs to 849 pages — has replaced a patchwork of forty legislative instruments. The aim of REACH, as stated in Article 1(1), “is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment [...] while enhancing competitiveness and innovation”. REACH, which involves an eleven-year phase-in-period for existing substances, will apply to “substances on their own, in preparations or in articles”. With a substance being defined as “a chemical element and its compounds in the natural state or obtained by any manufacturing process”, it is clear that the broad scope of REACH captures many different forms of nanoscale substances. Moreover, as stated in Article 1(3), REACH “is based on the principle that it is for manufacturers, importers and downstream users to ensure that they [...] do not adversely affect human health or the environment. Its provisions are underpinned by the precautionary principle”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute for Environmental and Energy Law, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 41, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Diana M. Bowman & Geert van Calster

  2. Monash Centre for Regulatory Studies, Faculty of Law, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia

    Diana M. Bowman

Authors
  1. Diana M. Bowman
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  2. Geert van Calster
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Bowman, D., van Calster, G. Does REACH go too far?. Nature Nanotech 2, 525–526 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2007.275

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