The different national nano registers

The different (projected) national nano registers

By the AVICENN team – last updated May 2022

Starting in 2013, in the absence of an agreement at international level or of a European register to track the production, use and marketing of nanomaterials, several countries began to set up national registers of nanomaterials marketed in their country.

In some Member States, registers (marked below with an asterisk*) aim not only to collect information on nanomaterials (as France has done with r-nano), but also to build up an inventory of consumer products with the declared nanomaterials.

The harmonization at the European level of the various national initiatives taken or envisaged by the Member States is strongly desired by civil society, Member States and the European Parliament, etc. Industry federations are more ambivalent on the subject: some say they prefer a European register rather than a juxtaposition of different national registers. In reality, they may find the status quo more advantageous and are not actually lobbying for a European register… on the contrary. They are concerned about the infringement of commercial and/or industrial secrecy, the cost for taxpayers and the administrative burden, but what about the protection of the environment and public health?

In Europe

France – since 2013

France, with its R-Nano register effective since 2013, is the first to have set up a register of nanomaterials imported, produced and distributed in the country.

The register is being improved: ANSES is currently working on the subject (2022).

Norway – since 2013

As of 2013, the national public climate and pollution agency now requires identification of nano substances in its chemical register¹Annual update for 2012 for information to the Norwegian Product Register, Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif), January 9, 2013.

Denmark* – since 2014

Starting in 2014, the country made it mandatory for producers and importers to register nanomaterials and products containing or releasing nanomaterials.

Belgium* – since 2016

Reporting has been in effect since 2016 for nanoparticulate substances.

Sweden* – since 2019

Mandatory reporting has been introduced in the Swedish legislation and came into effect in February 2019.

Germany* (project)

In 2011, the German Advisory Council for the Environment (SRU) recommended the creation of a national register of products containing nanomaterials, through a notification procedure for products and producers, if nothing of the sort was created in European law²See Precautionary Strategies for managing Nanomaterials, SRU, 2011.

In 2014, the Ministry of the Environment published a detailed assessment of the impacts of a European Register of Products Containing Nanomaterials³Assessment of Impacts of a European Register of Products Containing Nanomaterials, Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency), March 2014. In its opinion, an harmonized register at the European level would be preferable to disparate national registers and would allow for better traceability and risk management, which would benefit consumers, public authorities and companies alike. A spokesperson for the environmental agency, however, confirmed that if a European register was not established, Germany would set one up at the federal level⁴European Commission, member states weigh options for nano inventory, Chemical Watch, March 27, 2014.

Netherlands* (project)

The possibility of a mandatory declaration of nanomaterials and products with nanoscale characteristics is being studied⁵See :
– Note from the Netherlands delegation: Risks associated with nanomaterials, June 2011: “mandatory registration of nanomaterials and products with nanoscale features”
– Opinions in the Netherlands on European registration of consumer products containing nanomaterials, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), July 2013
– Exploring building blocks for amending EU regulation of nanomaterials, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), August 2013.

United Kingdom (project)

In the United Kingdom, the idea of a public register in which industries would declare their use of nanotechnologies was one of the flagship measures of the UK Nanotechnologies Strategy, launched in 2010 by the British government (action 4.8). In 2013, however, only 66 organizations were identified by the Environment Agency⁶Chemical Compliance Team Annual Report 2012-2013, Environment Agency, 2013.

Switzerland (project)

In August 2016, the specialized press reported on a Swiss project targeting nanomaterials similar to the European Reach regulation but adapted specifically for nanomaterials⁷Switzerland plans reform of nano regulation, Chemical Watch, August 2016.

Ireland (advocacy)

In Ireland, Professor Martin Cormican, a microbiologist at the National University of Ireland in Galway, called for an Irish register in August 2016⁸Microbiologist calls for Irish register of ‘nanomaterials’, Irish Times, August 18, 2016.

Elsewhere in the world

Canada – in 2015

In 2015, as part of a mandatory survey under Section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), 53 nanomaterials were reported to be sold in Canada.

United States – since 2017

Under Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a January 2017 regulation mandated the reporting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of certain chemicals manufactured, imported, or processed at the nanoscale, including specific chemical identity, production volume, manufacturing methods, processes, uses, exposures and releases, available health and safety data, …

South Korea – since 2022

Since January 1, 2022, registration of nanomaterials is mandatory in South Korea. As elsewhere, the implementation of this new system comes up against technical difficulties and reluctance on the part of industrialists⁹Cf. Bumpy start for South Korea’s mandatory registration of nanomaterials, Chemical Watch, 5 May 2022, inherent in the implementation of any new information and traceability system.

Jordan (project)

In May 2018, the Jordanian press announced that the Jordanian Ministry of Environment was preparing a plan to identify and regulate nanomaterials.