ANEC/BEUC inventory of products claiming to contain nanoparticles available on the EU market

ANEC (European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation) and BEUC (Bureau européen des unions de consommateurs) released this month on their websites an inventory of consumer products claiming to contain nanoparticles available on the EU market. This inventory shows for now examples of 151 products ; ANEC and BEUC intend to update [...]

Integrating the nanoscale in formulations : the InForm project

A new EU-funded 3-year, EUR 1.7 million project entitled INFORM (“Integrating the nanoscale in formulations”) aims to facilitate communication and consequently scientific advances in the field of formulation science regarding the use of nanomaterials. It will focus its efforts on six priority areas:
- the formulation of nano-bio materials
- the handling and processing of nanopowders
- process [...]

Nano review papers for environmental NGOs by the EEB

The European Environmental Bureau is producing a series of four papers “meant to serve as a capacity building tool empowering environmental NGOs to work actively in the field of sustainable governance and use of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials.”  Already two are available online :
Challenges and opportunities to green nanotechnologies (April 2009 ; 13 p)
Nanomaterials – health and [...]

Nanoscience and nanotechnology in the EC research programs

- In February 2008, the European Commission released a recommendation on a code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research. It is based on seven principles : meaning (activities should be broadly comprehensible); sustainability; precaution; inclusiveness (with regard to stakeholders); excellence; innovation; and accountability (with regard to social and other impacts).*
- The 7th Framework [...]

OSHA report : “Literature review – Workplace exposure to nanoparticles”

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) recently published a report entitled “Literature review – Workplace exposure to nanoparticles” which reviews the most recent publications on nanoparticles and focuses on the possible adverse health effects of workplace exposure. The document also presents the regulatory background and activities taken to manage this emerging risk.

TACD Resolution on Consumer Products Containing Nanoparticles

The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) is “a forum of US and EU consumer organisations which develops and agrees on joint consumer policy recommendations to the US government and European Union (…)“. At its annual meeting last week in Brussels, it adopted a resolution on consumer products containing nanoparticles. TACD actually ”believes that steps urgently need to [...]

Nano & biocidal silver – Friends Of the Earth report

Friends of the Earth (FoE) released yesterday a report entitled   “Nano & biocidal silver - extreme germ killers present a growing threat to public health” (press release).
In the frame of this document, the NGO calls for “immediate moratorium on the commercial release of products that contain manufactured nanosilver until nanotechnology-specific regulation is introduced to protect the public, [...]

International approaches to the regulatory governance of nanotechnology

The Regulatory Governance Initiative (RGI) at Carleton University in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) published in April a report entitled: “International Approaches to the Regulatory Governance of Nanotechnology“. According to the authors’ abstract :  “This report is an initial exploration into the question: ―How have Canada and other jurisdictions reacted to the recent emergence of nanotechnology-based products in [...]

NanoImpactNet

NanoImpactNet is a multidisciplinary European network on the health and environmental impact of nanomaterials. Its ambition is to “create a scientific basis to ensure the safe and responsible development of engineered nanoparticles and nanotechnology-based materials and products” and to “support the definition of regulatory measures and implementation of legislation in Europe“. The 24 institutes behind [...]

Nanotechnology Safety for Success Dialogue Workshop

The presentations of the 2nd Annual Nanotechnology Safety for Success Dialogue Workshop (Brussels, 2-3 October 2008) are now available online here. Topics covered in the different sessions included : Science and risk assessment ; Regulation ; International developments ; Risk governance, communication, and perception ; Communication with the customer ; …