Consumer can now be aware of nanotechnology being used in cosmetics and their foods.  

Why it's important

Nano-technologies refer to materials on an incredibly small scale - one nanometre is a millionth of a millimetre, so imagine a mouse in comparison to earth. They are now used in European industries from food, cosmetics, textiles to electrical appliances and medicines. While it can offer benefits, nano-materials have not been subjected to proper safety assessments. 

For consumers, that means:

•     For the first time, nanomaterials’ safety had to be assessed, and consumers needed to be informed.
•   The EU also agreed in the Regulation to look into misleading claims on cosmetics.  

What BEUC did

This highly risky approach was campaigned against by BEUC. As consumers should be well informed on such issues, we advocated for transparent labelling of nano-products we come in close contact with such as food and cosmetics.