nano-governance developments
Voluntary measures in nano risk governance
The topic of this year's International NanoRegulation Conference was voluntary measures in the identification, assessment, control and communication of nanotechnology risks.
The conference, which took place on 16-17 September, discussed the concepts, design principles and experiences made with voluntary measures as well as a new approach to international coordination on the field.
US FDA public meeting on nanotech task force report
The US Food and Drug Administration held, early September, a public meeting in view of gathering stakeholder views on the findings of the
Nanotechnology Task Force Report. Product-specific discussions addressed medical devices, prescription drugs, food additives and contact materials, dietary supplements as well as cosmetics.
In July, the report concluded that nanoscale materials present regulatory challenges similar to those posed by products using other emerging technologies, but noted that these challenges may be magnified due to the size of nano materials. It therefore urged timely development of a transparent and consistent regulatory pathway and listed a number of recommendations to address regulatory challenges presented in particular by products using nanotech but not subject to pre-market authorization requirement.
UK voluntary nanotech risk reporting scheme closes
The UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
A
voluntary reporting scheme allowing industry and research organisations to provide the UK government with information relevant to understanding the potential risks posed by free engineered nanoscale materials comes to an end in September. The scheme, running since September 2006, has aimed to help the UK government to gather evidence on potential risks of these materials in order for it to move towards appropriate controls.
Municipal action on nanomaterials in US
Following the Berkeley City Council ordinance, which imposed in December 2006 a reporting obligation on facilities manufacturing or using nanomaterials, the City Council of Cambridge has become the second US city to vote for a set of recommendations for a municipal health and safety policy on nanomaterials.
These recommendations were initially set out in a report jointly prepared by the city's health department and nanomaterials advisory committee and are aimed at providing an oversight of local nanotechnology activities to protect human health.
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Dutch government releases nano action plan
Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs adopted in early July a nanotechnology action plan considering ethical aspects, risks and societal dialogue on nanotech, as well as R&D and innovation on the field.
Following an analysis of existing legislation, the action plan concludes that no new separate ‘nano’ laws are needed for the time being. It then outlines a number of proposals and actions to be taken to manage risks, R&D and communicate nanotech with the society.
Report proposes nanotech regulatory blueprint for US administration
Nanotechnology oversight: an agenda for the next administration -report, published in July, calls for the White House and federal agency policymakers to maximize the use of existing laws and define nanomaterials as new substances under federal toxics and food laws in order to improve nanotechnology oversight.
Drafted by a former official of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), J. Clarence (Terry) Davies, the report lays out a clear regulatory roadmap on nanotech for the next US president and administration. It namely describes the immediate as well as long term steps necessary to deal with the current shortcomings of nanotech governance.
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EU chemicals legislation to assess carbon nanotubes
After a controversy between the EU member states and the European Commission over whether or not to provide a bloc exemption for safety testing of carbon and graphite substances in the EU chemical legislation REACH, the European Commission decided to delete such exemption early June.
Companies selling carbon and graphite, including carbon nanotubes, will thus need to submit a full health and safety data on these substances as they apply for market authorisations.
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US nanotech initiative amended
The National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008, drafted by the US House of Representatives' science and technology committee was passed to the Senate early June.
The act calls on the White House to toughen the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) by increasing its commitment to environmental health and safety research. If adopted by the Senate, it would also designate within the White House a coordinator for societal dimensions of nanotech, responsible for implementing the plan.
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Commission presents nanomaterials regulatory review
The European Commission's regulatory review of existing European legislation concluded that the current EU legislative framework covers in principle the potential health, safety and environmental risks in relation to nanomaterials.
However, the current laws may need to be modified as the depth of scientific knowledge on nanomaterials increases, it stated.
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Canadian experts call for more data to assess safety of nanomaterials
While the panel concluded that too little is known to assess the overall human and environmental risks posed by the introduction of nanotech products into society, it found no evidence that nano-based products currently on the market in Canada escape existing risk management strategies. The expert panel was appointed by the Council of Canadian Academies to examine the state of knowledge regarding nanomaterial properties and their risks potentially underpinning regulatory perspectives for research, risk assessment and surveillance.
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Learning from past technologies to ensure safe introduction of nanotech
An expert study published in Nature Nanotechnology argues that industry, government and scientists may be failing to learn from lessons drawn from past technologies' "late lessons from early warnings" such as introduction of toxic PCBs or ozone-damaging halocarbons.
The authors of the analysis argue that current risk research strategies are weak and not leading to clear answers to critical safety questions or bridging clear knowledge gaps. They also write that collaboration on risk research, environment and health monitoring is hampered by disciplinary and institutional barriers and lacks engagement from public.
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Trade Unions call for REACH amendment to cover nanomaterials
European labour unions have called on the European Commission to amend the bloc's chemicals regulation (REACH) on chemicals to better protect workers against nanomaterials throughout their lifecycle. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) argues that workers all along the production chain from laboratories through to manufacturing, transport, shop shelves, cleaning, maintenance and waste management are exposed to nanomaterials and calls on the precautionary principle to be applied to nanotechnologies.
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