Nanomaterials

FAO Report Calls for Robust Risk Assessment for Recycled Plastic Food Packaging

FAO has issued a 2026 technical study calling for more robust, science-based risk assessment and globally harmonised standards for recycled plastics and alternative food contact materials. This non-binding analysis is likely to shape future Codex and national packaging rules, influencing design and compliance strategies for food and beverage packaging supply chains worldwide.

20 May 2026, 19:52doi.orgGlobal

France DGCCRF Finds Labelling Breaches in “Antibacterial” and “Anti-Odour” Textiles

France’s DGCCRF has reported that 2023–2024 inspections of “antibacterial” and “anti-odour” textiles found frequent labelling and claim-substantiation breaches, though no banned nanomaterials such as nano-silver, nano zinc oxide or nano titanium dioxide were detected. Manufacturers, importers and retailers of biocidally treated textiles in France should expect continued scrutiny of nanomaterial use and biocidal marketing claims and may need to tighten documentation, labelling and testing evidence to avoid enforcement action.

20 May 2026, 17:57economie.gouv.frFrance

Expert Review Challenges ECHA RAC STOT RE 1 Proposal for Synthetic Amorphous Silica (SAS)

An independent toxicology review challenges ECHA’s March 2025 RAC opinion proposing a STOT RE 1 inhalation classification for synthetic amorphous silica, arguing that it conflicts with CLP’s intrinsic-property criteria and recent EU case law on titanium dioxide. If regulators revisit the dossier or pivot towards harmonised occupational exposure limits instead, SAS producers and downstream users could face a materially different balance between hazard labelling, workplace controls, and long-term use viability in EU markets.

15 May 2026, 17:46circabc.europa.euEuropean Union

US FDA CDER Recognizes ASTM E3324-22 Voluntary Standard for Lipid Quantitation in Liposomal Drug Formulations

US FDA’s CDER has recognized ASTM E3324-22 as a voluntary consensus standard for lipid quantitation in liposomal drug formulations under its pharmaceutical Quality Standards Program, effective 3 April 2026. This gives manufacturers a more predictable, FDA-endorsed analytical method for liposomal products, supporting faster generic and biosimilar development and more efficient regulatory submissions.

14 May 2026, 05:57fda.govUnited States

EU ECHA Updates AS-RNL Expressions Of Interest List For Biocidal Active Substance Renewals (Prepared 04 May 2026)

ECHA has refreshed its “expressions of interest” list for Biocidal Products Regulation active substance renewals, publishing a version prepared as of 04 May 2026 that shows which active substance/product-type combinations have sponsors, which do not, and the associated renewal deadlines over the next several years. This update gives manufacturers and authorisation holders a clearer forward view of which biocidal actives remain supported, where no renewal interest is recorded, and when key renewal windows close, informing decisions on joint dossiers, portfolio prioritisation, and substitution planning.

11 May 2026, 12:02echa.europa.euEuropean Union

GB CLP Agency Issues Article 37 Technical Report on Synthetic Amorphous Silica (CAS 112945-52-5; 112926-00-8)

In April 2026 the UK Health and Safety Executive issued an Article 37 technical report declining, for now, to adopt ECHA’s proposed STOT RE 1 classification for synthetic amorphous silica under Great Britain’s CLP regime. This signals a targeted Article 37A mandatory classification proposal to come, so GB users and producers of synthetic amorphous silica should anticipate a possible GB-specific classification outcome and plan for potential future changes to labelling and risk management.

11 May 2026, 07:56hse.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Switzerland Amends Plant Protection Products Ordinance (OPPh/PSMV) on Nanomaterials and Beneficial Organisms

Switzerland has amended its Plant Protection Products Ordinance to tighten dossiers for nanomaterial-containing products and align active substance data with EU rules while replacing the list of approved beneficial organisms, effective mid-June 2026. Companies seeking authorisation or renewal of plant protection products in Switzerland should reassess data packages and biological control agents now to ensure applications meet the enhanced information requirements and only rely on organisms listed in the revised Annex 7.

9 May 2026, 19:11fedlex.data.admin.chSwitzerland

EU SCCS Publishes Minutes From Working Group on Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products (15 April 2026)

In May 2026, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety published minutes from its working group meeting on nanomaterials in cosmetic products, detailing ongoing assessments of titanium dioxide (nano and non-nano) and synthetic amorphous silica (nano). The minutes confirm that these nanomaterial safety evaluations remain in progress and will align with forthcoming EFSA nano guidance, so cosmetic manufacturers using TiO2 or SAS should monitor for future SCCS opinions while noting that this document alone does not introduce new regulatory obligations.

8 May 2026, 10:55health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Industry Submission Challenges ECHA RAC STOT RE 1 Classification for Synthetic Amorphous Silica (SAS)

In March 2025, ECHA’s Risk Assessment Committee adopted an opinion recommending a CLP STOT RE 1 inhalation classification for synthetic amorphous silica (SAS), and an EU cosmetics-focused industry submission has now challenged the opinion’s scientific basis, scope and relevance to real-world exposure. If this classification is carried through into a binding CLP update, it could significantly constrain SAS use in cosmetics and related products, forcing difficult reformulation and substitution decisions and heightening the need to align CLP outcomes with the parallel SCCS safety assessment under the EU Cosmetics Regulation.

8 May 2026, 07:52circabc.europa.euEuropean Union

EU SCCS Working Group Minutes Record New Mandates on Glyoxylic Acid and Hydroxycitronellal and Data Call for Phytonadione Epoxide

EU SCCS Working Group minutes from April 2026 record new scientific mandates on glyoxylic acid and hydroxycitronellal, an imminent data-call deadline for phytonadione epoxide, and key milestones for multiple cosmetic ingredient opinions and nanomaterial assessments. These steps foreshadow potential changes to permitted uses and concentration limits for several UV filters, hair-straightening agents, fragrances and silver- or nano-based ingredients in EU cosmetics, making timely data submissions and close monitoring of forthcoming SCCS opinions important for portfolio and compliance planning.

8 May 2026, 06:01health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU SCCS Updates Working Group Memberships and Declarations of Interest

The European Commission has updated the SCCS working group page to publish current membership, chairs, external experts, and links to declarations of interest for cosmetic ingredients, nanomaterials in cosmetic products, and methodology groups. This governance update clarifies who will shape upcoming SCCS opinions on cosmetic ingredient and nanomaterial safety, helping companies anticipate future risk assessments and potential restrictions even though no immediate legal duties change.

7 May 2026, 05:50health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

CJEU Advocate General Opinion on CLP Harmonised Classification of Silanamine (C‑121/25 P)

In April 2026 the CJEU’s Advocate General issued a detailed opinion in Evonik’s appeal on the CLP harmonised classification of nanosilica silanamine, broadly rejecting procedural and scientific challenges to the EU’s approach. This strongly signals that the existing STOT RE Category 2 classification and related labelling duties under CLP will remain in place, so manufacturers and downstream users should plan on continued compliance rather than relief from the current harmonised entry.

5 May 2026, 06:51eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU ICCG Publishes 24 April 2026 Minutes on SCCS–ECHA Transition and SCCS Call

The European Commission has published minutes from the 24 April 2026 ICCG meeting between SCCS and SCHEER, highlighting the planned transition of SCCS work to ECHA, the closure of SCHEER, ongoing opinions on copper EQS and chemical mixtures, and an SCCS membership call closing on 31 May 2026. These minutes signal medium-term changes in how EU scientific advice on consumer safety, cosmetics, nanomaterials and water quality will be organised, helping companies anticipate where future opinions and regulatory priorities may shift.

4 May 2026, 19:57ec.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament Adopts First-Reading Position on Simplification of Chemical Product Requirements (COM(2025)0531)

In late April 2026 the European Parliament adopted its first-reading position on the COM(2025)0531 "chemical products simplification" package, amending CLP, the Cosmetics Regulation and the Fertilising Products Regulation to streamline labelling, CMR management, digitalisation and fertiliser conformity rules. This sets Parliament’s negotiating line for reducing administrative burden—particularly for SMEs and through greater use of digital tools—while preserving high protection standards, signalling likely future adjustments that chemicals, cosmetics and fertiliser suppliers need to factor into medium-term compliance planning.

3 May 2026, 07:18europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EU JRC Details Support for EFSA Nano Risk Assessment Guidance up to 250 Nm in Food and Feed

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre outlines how its Nanomaterials Repository underpins EFSA’s nano risk assessment guidance for food and feed, including the use of a 250 nm particle-size scope and increased reliance on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). For food and feed applicants this signals that nanospecific characterisation and NAM-based testing will be expected for materials up to 250 nm, and that well-characterised reference nanomaterials are available from the JRC Repository to support compliant study design and regulatory submissions.

28 Apr 2026, 19:56op.europa.euEuropean Union

Basel Convention OEWG‑15 Annotations to the Provisional Agenda for June 2026 Meeting

The Basel Convention secretariat has published annotations to the provisional agenda for the fifteenth meeting of its Open-ended Working Group in Geneva on 23–26 June 2026, outlining an intensive programme on POPs and PFAS waste, e-waste, batteries, plastics, mercury, nanomaterials, used textiles and related legal clarifications under the Convention. While the document itself is procedural, it confirms a packed negotiating calendar on hazardous and plastic waste that is likely to drive future changes to technical guidelines and annexes, so waste handlers, exporters and chemicals-intensive manufacturers should monitor Basel outcomes closely over 2026–2029.

27 Apr 2026, 18:17docs.un.orgGlobal

Basel Convention Secretariat Issues Draft OEWG Work Programme for 2028–2029 Biennium

Document **UNEP/CHW/OEWG.15/14** (24 February 2026) presents a draft work programme for the Basel Convention Open‑ended Working Group (OEWG) for the 2028–2029 biennium, to be discussed at OEWG‑15 in June 2026 and then adopted, in revised form, by COP‑18. The draft highlights high‑priority agenda items such as improving the prior informed consent procedure, updating POPs and e‑waste technical guidelines, and further work on plastic waste, nanomaterial‑containing wastes and used textiles, signalling medium‑term policy focus areas without yet establishing new binding obligations.

24 Apr 2026, 09:16docs.un.orgGlobal

France R-Nano Extends 2026 Nanomaterial Declaration Deadline for Distributors to 31 May 2026

France’s R-Nano register has extended the 2026 nanomaterial declaration deadline for distributors to 31 May 2026 to accommodate late receipt of declaration numbers from suppliers. Companies placing nanomaterial substances on the French market must coordinate R-Nano filings and share declaration numbers quickly to avoid non-compliance risks under the national nanomaterials reporting regime.

22 Apr 2026, 21:06r-nano.frFrance

EU SCCS Working Group Continues Notes of Guidance 13th Revision and Hairdresser Mandate (27 March 2026)

Minutes from a 27 March 2026 meeting of the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety’s Methodologies Working Group confirm ongoing work on a 13th revision of the SCCS Notes of Guidance and a targeted scientific advice mandate on hairdressers. This indicates that updated cosmetic safety assessment methodologies—especially for UV filters, hair dyes, nanomaterials and endocrine and reproductive endpoints—are likely over the medium term, but no new regulatory obligations or deadlines arise yet.

13 Apr 2026, 19:30health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU SCCS Working Group Reviews Cosmetics Ingredient Opinions and Data Calls (25 March 2026)

In March 2026, the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reviewed the status of multiple cosmetics ingredient opinions, confirmed key data deadlines, and prepared several opinions for plenary adoption. These minutes signal which UV filters, CMR candidates, and other actives are moving toward final SCCS positions or corrigenda, allowing cosmetics companies to anticipate potential changes to allowed uses, labelling, and reformulation priorities in the EU.

13 Apr 2026, 19:30health.ec.europa.euEuropean Union