- News Articles - Reports & Articles - Public Consultations

• News Articles on Nanotechnology & Cosmetics

- Groups demand EPA stop sale of 200+ potentually dangerous nano-silver products
1 May 2008 - NanoAction, USA

- Coalition Pushing Shareholder Resolutions at Avon and Dow
23 April 2008 - Sustainable Business, USA

- Natural nano sunscreens - a contradiction?
23 April 2008 - Cosmetic Design, UE

- Scientists issue safety warning on cosmetic nanomaterials
5 March 2008 - EurActiv, EU

- Stating the Obvious: Nano Cosmetics Risk Assessment is Inadequate
5 March 2008 - Environmental Defense, USA

- Organic retailer launches nano-info campaign
6 February 2008 - Cosmetic News, France

- Soil Association first organisation in the world to ban nanoparticles
15 January 2008 - Soil Association, UK

- Not just a pretty face - The side effects of cosmetic chemicals
January 2008 - Common Ground, Canada

Archives

• Reports & Articles on Nanotechnology & Cosmetics

A listing of nano-related cosmetics is provided by the NanotechProject in its Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory.

- "The Safety of Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products" - EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP), March 2008

- Nanoparticles and Sunscreens: A Consumer Guide for Avoiding Nano Sunscreens - Friends of the Earth, USA, August 2007

The report includes information about the health and environmental risks that nanoparticles may pose. The guide also contains the results of a survey of sunscreen manufacturers that can help consumers choose which products to use.

- Nanotechnology, A Report of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Nanotechnology Task Force - FDA, July 2007

- Safety of nanomaterials in cosmetic products - SCCP (Scientific Committee on Consumer Products), UE, June 2007

- Beneath the Skin: Hidden Liabilities, Market Risk and Drivers of Change in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Industry - Investor Environmental Health Network, February 2007
The report describes a ticking time bomb scenario of a largely self-policed industry in which regulatory action by the U.S. FDA typically is triggered only by reporting from the companies themselves. "The result is a system that permits significant consumer exposure to occur before sufficiently rigorous safety testing is conducted - ultimately, a game of roulette which places consumers, manufacturers and investors at risk," said Sanford Lewis, an attorney specializing in corporate accountability and one of the report's authors.

- Public Meeting on Nanotechnology Materials in FDA Regulated Products - FDA, October 2006
Powerpoint presentations from researchers, associations, industrials, presented at the FDA's first major public meeting on regulating products containing nanotechnology materials

- Nanomaterials, Sunscreens and Cosmetics: Small Ingredients, Big Risks - Friends of the Earth, May 2006

This report details the extensive use of nanomaterials in more than 116 sunscreens, cosmetics and personal care products currently on the market, despite a lack of independent safety assessment and regulation. It states that many types of nanoparticles pose risks to consumers, workers and the environment.

- CTA Legal Petition on FDA's Failure to Regulate Health Threats from Nanomaterials - CTA, May 2006
The International Center for Technology Assessment (CTA) and a coalition of consumer, health, and environmental groups file a formal legal petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on the agency to address the human health and environmental risks of untested and unlabeled nanomaterials in consumer products (including sunscreens).

- Safety of sunscreens containing nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide - Australian Department of Health and Ageing, February 2006
At the present time around 70% of sunscreens with titanium dioxide and 30% of sunscreens with zinc oxide have these materials in nanoparticle form.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is monitoring the emerging scientific literature in this area and working cooperatively with international agencies to monitor these issues and ensure that appropriate action is undertaken if any risks are identified

• Public Consultations on Nanotechnology & Cosmetics

- Nanoparticles & Sunscreen Products August 23 to December 26, 2007 - Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA International Center for Technology Assessment Action Alert: "Take Action: Tell FDA to regulate unlabeled and untested nanomaterials in sunscreens"

- NanoCosmetics June to September 6, 2007 - European Commission, EU

- Public Meeting on Nanotechnology Materials November 2006 - Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA The International Center for Technology Assessment had drafted comments : http://www.icta.org/template/page.cfm?menu_id=54

Other consultations on nanotechnology related issues here

• Archive News Articles

2007

- This year resolve to update cosmetics to eco-friendly brands
31 December 2007 - Willamette Live, USA

- Nanotech Cosmetic Sector Continues to Grow
23 December 2007 - CareFair, Swizerland

- Consumers are still suspicious of nano cosmetics
21 December 2007 - CosmeticDesign, EU

- Legislation set to shape nanotech cosmetics
17 December 2007 - CosmeticDesign.com, USA

- Does coating nanoparticles make them safe(r) for cosmetics?
30 October 2007 - NanoWerk, USA

- Nanotechnology: Waiting for the Killer App
27 September 2007 - Nanotechnology Now, USA

- Safety of Cosmetics Containing Nanoparticles Questioned at BA Festival of Science
13 September 2007 - Azonano, Australia

- Nanotechnology: Small Wonders
10 September 2007 - WWD, USA

- FDA Proposes New Rule for Sunscreen Products
23 August 2007 - FDA News, USA

- Nanoparticles in Your Sunscreen: Too Hot To Handle? 14 August 2007 - New York Times Bits Blog, USA