Nano and Other Emerging Chemical Technologies Blog

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) announced on September 18, 2025, that the European Commission (EC) has requested a scientific opinion on the safety of titanium dioxide (nano and non-nano) in cosmetic products. As reported in our May 24, 2024, blog item, on May 23, 2024, SCCS published a document entitled “Scientific Advice on Titanium dioxide (TiO2).” The document noted that the available evidence was not sufficient to exclude the genotoxicity potential of almost all of...

The Particles Platform, an informal alliance of European Union (EU) industry associations representing manufacturers of materials in the form of particles, including poorly soluble low toxicity particles (PSLT), will hold a workshop on October 2, 2025. The workshop intends to advance regulatory science on particles through new evidence on inhalation toxicity. It will explore the regulatory landscape for particles and provide attendees an opportunity to: Access the latest research on particle...

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published two standards for graphene-related two-dimensional (2D) materials: ISO/TS 9651:2025, Nanotechnologies -- Classification framework for graphene‐related 2D materials: The document specifies the characteristics and their respective measurement methods of graphene-related 2D materials in sheet and particle forms for commercial applications with the aim of classification of the materials. The classification framework...

On July 23, 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced the release of the Plan of Priorities, a multi-year plan that outlines upcoming priorities for the assessment of chemical substances. The Plan includes a list of more than 30 substances and substance groups prioritized for assessment and includes new or expanded activities to help assess, control, and manage risks posed by substances. ECCC states that in selecting and prioritizing these substances, considerations included:...

On August 1, 2025, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a judgment upholding the 2022 decision of the General Court annulling the 2019 harmonized classification and labeling of titanium dioxide as a carcinogenic substance by inhalation in certain powder forms. As reported in our December 6, 2022, memorandum, the court annulled the European Commission’s (EC) decision to classify titanium dioxide as a suspected human carcinogen. The French government and the EC appealed the decision,...

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final significant use rules (SNUR) for certain chemical substances, including graphene nanoplatelets (generic), that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN) and a Microbial Commercial Activity Notice (MCAN) and are also subject to an Order issued by EPA pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 90 Fed. Reg. 35624. The SNURs require persons who intend to manufacture (including import) or process any of the...

On July 1, 2025, the European Commission’s (EC) Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued a final opinion on hydroxyapatite (nano) in oral products. The EC asked SCCS if it considers hydroxyapatite (nano) safe when used in toothpaste up to a maximum concentration of 29.5 percent and in mouthwash up to a maximum concentration of ten percent according to the specifications as reported in the submission, taking into account reasonably foreseeable exposure conditions. According to the...

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will hold a webinar on July 17, 2025, on “Nanotechnology R&D Infrastructure: Then and Now.” NASEM states that in the two decades since the authorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), the United States has become a global leader in the field with world-class research and development (R&D) infrastructure, but asks what new capabilities are needed to support emerging technologies. The webinar will...

On June 30, 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a report entitled 2D Titanium Carbide MXenes: Case Study Report on Advanced Materials. Within OECD’s Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), the Steering Group on Advanced Materials conducted a case study on the potential issues of 2D titanium carbide MXenes. The report describes MXenes as “a group of [two-dimensional (2D)] advanced materials composed of transition metal carbides or...

On June 11, 2025, the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) published a position paper entitled Bridging the Governance Gap: Divergent EU Approaches to Nano and Advanced Materials that highlights industry challenges with divergent approaches to nano and advanced materials in the European Union (EU). NIA notes that the EU “is at a critical juncture in the approach that it takes towards nano and other advanced materials.” According to NIA, with the European Commission’s (EC)...