A 2014 petition calling for a ban on nanoparticles in the European Union has been denied by the European Commission (EC) in their notice to the European Parliament. Within their notice, the EC concludes that they have no plans to ban nanomaterials, but rather supports the responsible use of these materials to “develop tools that protect human health and the environment and address other societal challenges”.

The EC states that it has identified a need to modify the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation to include specific considerations for nanomaterials, but on a case-by-case basis, the current regulatory framework for chemicals and sectorial legislations are sufficient to assess and manage the risks.