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The Council of the European Union adopts conclusions on Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies

Published: Friday 26 September 2008

The Council of the European Union, during its 2891st Council meeting on Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry and Research) (held on the 25th and 26th September 2008 in Brussels) adopted a set of conclusions in the field of research concerning Nanosciences and Nanotechnolgies: '[…]

  • ENCOURAGES the development of research activities in areas underpinning risk assessment and risk management and the deepening of scientific knowledge of all relevant aspects necessary for determining the potential risks of nano-objects and nanoparticles to human health and the environment (including the understanding of fundamental biological processes, toxicology and eco-toxicology as well as the metrology of nano-objects and nanoparticles, whether natural or man-made), and CONSIDERS that the results of such research activities should lead to the establishment of detection methods validated for the products of nanotechnologies which could have, directly or indirectly, a potentially harmful effect on human or animal health;
  • UNDERLINES that, in the field of N&N research, the protection of researchers and workers potentially exposed to nano-objects and nanoparticles calls for particular attention and efforts;
  • ENCOURAGES the continuation of an international dialogue, in particular as part of the work of the OECD, towards an international framework of guidelines for N&N research with a view to facilitating international cooperation in this area, inter alia by providing all actors with a set of common rules and terminology both locally and globally;
  • INVITES Member States and other stakeholders concerned to take note of the Commission Recommendation in the light of the above considerations;
  • INVITES the Commission to:
-        continue its efforts in supporting N&N research in Europe and in monitoring developments world-wide, with a view to promoting European competitiveness in this sector, improving the safety of researchers, workers and consumers, as well as protecting the environment and identifying good governance or regulatory practices for risk management issues;
-         encourage public debate and foster public awareness through the dissemination of information on N&N research;
-         collect information on the practices of Member States and other stakeholders with respect to responsible N&N research, paying particular attention to the need for a coherent and equitable development of these practices in Europe;
-         review and, as appropriate, amend its Recommendation by February 2010 and regularly thereafter, in close consultation with Member States, while taking into account the above considerations as well as the state of European competitiveness in the nanosciences and nanotechnologies and developments in this sector at European and global level, and then report back regularly to the Council and the European Parliament;
-         engage in the work carried out by the relevant international organisations regarding the terminology related to nanotechnologies so as to ensure coherence at European and global level in this respect.’