The European Commission has recently adopted a Communication entitled "Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies: an action plan for Europe 2005-2009 - "Second Implementation Report 2007-2009" as part of its Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies Action plan for Europe 2005-2009.

The report notes that the past two years have seen a substantial development of nanotechnology, supported by a further growth in research funding and the active development of policy, and also that novel applications and products of nanotechnology are constantly being realised. In this light it states that efforts to address societal and safety concerns must be continued to ensure the safe and sustainable development of nanotechnology.

The Commission highlight a number of urgent needs required from the regulatory point of view:

• Research funding should be both increased and consolidated, to keep up with the pace of development and marketing of new applications;
• To obtain relevant data, currently available methods for risk assessment need to be adjusted, validated and harmonised for nanomaterials;
• In particular, methods need to be improved, developed and validated, in the areas of characterisation, exposure assessment, hazard identification, life cycle assessment and simulation. To this end, research will also be needed on fundamental aspects regarding the interaction of nanomaterials with living organisms;
• Suitable reference nanomaterials are needed for method development and validation, as well as for quality assurance;
• Public databases need to be developed, to serve in the safety assessment of nanomaterials;
• Particular focus should be given to research speeding up the development of test guidelines and standards within OECD, ISO and CEN.

The Commission also states that it is aware of the need to obtain a better and more accurate overview and that it intends to present information on types and uses of nanomaterials, including safety aspects, in 2011.

Second nanotechnology implementation report

Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies Action Plan 2005-2009

European Commission nanotechnology policy homepage

Source: SafeNano