After mapping the life cycle of the three products, we analysed applicable regulations in the order in which they became relevant in their life cycle, i.e.:
• The Safety at Workplace Directives,
• Directive 61/1996 on the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control,
• The European Union’s Directive on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, and
• The Waste Management Directives.
It was found that the applicability of environmental laws is limited due to difficulties in generating sufficient data on the nanomaterials residing in the products according to their life cycles. Further, metrology tools are unavailable; thresholds are not tailored to the nanoscale; and toxicological data and occupational exposure limits cannot be established with existing methodologies. We conclude that the “incremental approach” can only be applicable with the implementation of due amendments.