Environment MEPs call for a ban on certain nanomaterials for electronics applications

14 Jun 2010

Earlier this month Environment Committee Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) called for a ban on nanosilver, long multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and labelling for electrical and electronic products containing nanomaterials, for example conductive inks.

The calls came amid a meeting by the Environment Committee to decide on a recasting of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.

MEPs took a tough line on nanomaterials, an area not specifically addressed in the Commission proposal, calling for a ban on nanosilver and long multi-walled carbon nanotubes. They agreed other electrical and electronic material containing nanomaterials should be labelled, and that the manufacturers should be obliged to provide safety data to the European Commission.

The European Parliament is scheduled to vote in July on the Environment Committee recommendations for recasting the RoHS Directive. The committee is also to vote on the related Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive in due course.

Some substances can pose health or environmental risks during the life of an electrical or electronic device, or when it is dumped or processed as waste. The RoHS, Directive has a global impact, since it applies to goods imported from third countries as well as those produced in the EU. Furthermore, much EU e-waste is processed in developing countries, often in sub-standard conditions.

MEPs called for further evaluation for a number of substances that are not currently restricted, including halogenated flame retardants and PVC. Any consideration of substances for possible restriction should be carried out under the responsibility of the European Commission, using the 'delegated acts' procedure, the committee said, but the European Parliament or Member States should also be able to propose substances to be examined. Furthermore, the assessment criteria should include the substance's potential health and environmental impact, said the committee.

MEPs voted in favour of an 'open scope', meaning that all electrical and electronic material would be covered by the legislation, unless specifically excluded to achieve greater legal clarity.

MEPs recommended that certain areas be excluded from the Directive's scope, including, inter alia, renewable energy generation, certain large-scale installations and industrial tools, and material for military purposes and vehicles. They suggested that the European Commission could propose further exclusions within a transitional period of 18 months after the recast Directive enters into force. Exclusions would be subject to review in 2014.

Some nanomaterials producers are focusing efforts on developing conductive inks to replace bulk silver, gold and copper etching and processes in electronics production such as printed circuit and flexible circuit board production.