| Summary: |
In the European Commission's review of nanotechnology regulation (see report ID 136), the Commission identified the need for a comprehensive science-based definition of nanomaterials. This report identifies elements of such a definition and reviews currently available definitions. It also suggests guidance for creating a science-based definition for practical use. A definition should be broadly applicable in EU legislation and policies, legally clear, enforceable through agreed measurement techniques, and in line with other approaches worldwide. This report analyzes definitions from the ISO, SCENIHR, OECD, and other groups, which often contradict in size and other parameters. The Commission believes that size itself should be used as a parameter in a definition of nanomaterial instead of other parameters which depend on size. The report concludes that a definition of nanomaterial for regulatory purposes should only concern particulate nanomaterials, be broadly applicable in EU legislation, and use size as the only defining property. |