Advanced (nano)materials have interesting new properties. Some of these materials are not only super strong but also very lightweight, or they can repair themselves or change shape. Some can conduct electricity without energy loss, or change their colour or transparency. These materials are expected to play an important role in various technological transitions. As a result, governments and industry are investing heavily in their development. For instance, they are already widely used in the energy transition, particularly in solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles. They may also contribute to the development of new medicines, such as targeting drugs to specific locations within the body.

Legal definition of a nanomaterial

In 2011, the European Commission (EC) defined a nanomaterial as “a natural, incidental, or manufactured material containing particles, where 50% or more of the particles, in a number-based particle size distribution, have one or more external dimensions between 1 nm and 100 nm”. The definition was revised in 2022, but the new definition has not yet been implemented in legislation.

No legal definition of an advanced material

There is currently no legal definition of “advanced material”. Generally, it refers to a combination of several substances that is fairly new and complex and has new functionalities. In some cases, nanotechnology is needed to make these materials. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has produced a Working Description to help establish a common understanding of the term “advanced material”.