Further to the publication of EU recommendation 2011/696/EU on the definition of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), some substances used for decades as additives in the plastics industry now find themselves classed as nanomaterials. The list of substances includes among others, silica, carbon black and many organic pigments. While the substances are used as additives in polymers they typically end up encapsulated into the polymer matrix and are not intended to be released under normal and foreseeable conditions. Based on these arguments, this raises the question; Should polymer products containing such additives be exempt from notification?