NEWS
Project News
The FramingNano Delphi consultation remains open for any stakeholder wishing to respond to the questionnaire and to contribute to the formulation of the draft governance plan for the responsible development of nanotechnologies being developed by FramingNano. The success of the future governance plan depends on your input and the questionnaire can be downloaded at:
http://www.framingnano.eu/index.php?
option=com_content&task=section&id=16&Itemid=78
Commission SCENIHR hearing
The European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) has organised a one-day scientific hearing on 10 September 2009 in Brussels.
The Commission is continuously monitoring the developments in nanotechnologies and is using the independent EU Scientific Committees to contribute to the assessment of health and environmental risks that they may pose. In this context, the recent opinion on the Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) contributes in a timely manner to current discussions on nanomaterials in the EU legislative proposals relating to novel foods and cosmetics as well as for the implementation of existing legislation such as REACH.
In preparation for the hearing, the Commission undertook a public consultation, the outcome of which is to be considered at the September meeting.
For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/
04_scenihr/scenihr_cons_10_en.htm
Nanotech claims ‘dropped’ for fear of consumer recoil
Finding reliable information about products on the European market which currently contain nanomaterials is becoming increasingly difficult, according to high-level experts addressing the TADC (Trans-Atlantic Consumer Dialogue, a meeting of consumer groups from the EU and US) Conference “Regulating Nanotechnology in Food and Consumer Products: Developing a Consumer-focused Transatlantic Approach” in Brussels on 10 June 2009.
Some products containing nanoparticles do not mention this fact on their labels, while other firms are falsely claiming to have enhanced their products by using nanotechnology,
Dr Andrew Maynard, chief science advisor to the 'Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies' at the Woodrow Wilson Center , has collated an inventory of products currently on the market which manufacturers claim contain nanotechnology. He said around 800 products have been identified online, with the bulk of these found in the health and fitness sector, but that few of these pose a potential health risk. However, he is concerned that controversy surrounding nanotechnology – some of which, he says, is not grounded in scientific fact – has led manufacturers to remove any mention of nanomaterials from their products.
For more information, see http://www.euractiv.com/en/science/nanotech-claims-dropped-fear-consumer-recoil/article-183183
Lobbyists “fuelling confusion” on nanotech, EU warns
The highest-ranked health official in the EU executive has hit out at lobby groups who stoke fear of nanotechnology. Robert Madelin, Director-General at the European Commission's Health and Consumer Affairs Directorate, also a speaker at the TACD Conference held in Brussels on 10 June 2009, said it was "irresponsible" to use panic in order to attract attention.
Mr Madelin said conflicting messages emanating from NGOs, industry and academia are fuelling confusion among the public about a new technology with significant potential. He said further problems in communicating about nanotechnology arise when stakeholders work with different definitions. The industry currently defines nanoparticles as being smaller than 100nm, while some consumer groups include particles of less than 300nm. Asked whether he was confident that food currently on the shelves in European supermarkets was safe, the senior EU official said he was.
Axel Singhofen, advisor to the Green/EFA political group in the European Parliament, said he was shocked by Mr Madelin's claims that food is safe, given the absence of data. Singhofen said the European Parliament has taken a more precautionary approach than the European Commission by insisting on a "no data, no market" approach before allowing products to be sold in Europe.
For more information, see http://www.euractiv.com/en/science/lobbyists-fuelling-confusion-nanotech-eu-warns/article-183198
German nanotechnology should be more integrated with public dialogue
The German Parliament has adopted a resolution on nanotechnology which gives targeted research funding for future oriented innovation and growth areas. The parliament calls for better integration of the nanotechnology activities in a societal dialogue, and focus of research on areas including clean water, energy efficiency and climate protection. Under the plans, at least ten percent of funding for nanotechnology should be dedicated to nano-risk research.
The resolution also addressed the need for investment in the whole nanotechnology industry in Germany including access to risk capital for start-up companies and better communication about opportunities and risks, involving a shared information service. It also emphasises that Germany should cooperate internationally in the fields of standardisation, terminology and risk assessment.
For more information (in original German), see: http://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/16/126/1612695.pdf
UK study examines postgraduate education in nanotechnology
Two experts in nanotechnology education have teamed up to produce a report that provides a insight into what various institutions across Europe have elected to teach at postgraduate level under a large and exciting variety of nanotechnology masters qualifications.
The report, produced by Kshitij Aditeya Singh of the Institute of Nanotechnology and Coordinator of the Nanotechnology Masters Directory and Recognition Scheme, in conjunction with Steve Dunn from Cranfield University , contains key information about modules that are included in nanotechnology masters programmes, some of which address important ELSI issues.
The study aims to provide educators preparing new educational programmes at the Masters level, those engaged in continual improvement of programmes and professional bodies engaging in accreditation, with an overview of current practices and methods collectively applied by higher education establishments.
For more information, see: http://www.nanoforum.org/
nf06~modul~showmore~folder~99999~scc~news~scid~3945~.html?
action=longview&
UK Minister wants nanotechnology strategy by February 2010
The UK Government is developing a strategy for nanotechnologies, to build on existing actions, recommendations and strategies, and to ensure that the UK can benefit from the societal and economic opportunities that these technologies may offer, whilst addressing the challenges that they might present.
The strategy is to be influenced and informed by the views of everyone from researchers, businesses, regulators and policy makers to third sector organisations and the general public. There is a website for receiving comments or views which gives an opportunity to comment on how nanotechnologies might be used in a range of different industry sectors.
The government aims to complete the development of the strategy before the end of February 2010.
For more information, see: http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/nano/
OECD reports on safety of manufactured nanomaterials
The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), a subsidiary body of the OECD Chemicals Committee has recently published a number of important reports on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials including
- No. 15 - Preliminary Review of OECD Test Guidelines for their Applicability to Manufactured Nanomaterials
- No.16 - Manufactured Nanomaterials: Work Programme 2009-2012
- No. 18 - Manufactured Nanomaterials: Roadmap For activities during 2009 and 2010
More OECD news…
The OECD organized a conference Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology: Fostering Safe Innovation-Led Growth in Paris on 15-17 July 2009 which covered both opportunities and challenges in using nanotechnologies for potential environmental benefit. The conference aimed at learning from international expertise and identifying ways in which to improve policies with the potential to enhance both short- and long-term economic growth. The following major themes were addressed:
- Pollution Reduction;
- Cleaner production;
- Other benefits including environmental remediation;
and
- Societal drivers such as policy innovations, and business/NGO leadership
