From the 29^th June to the 1^st July 2009, the 17th session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Substances (Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) will discuss a paper entitled ‘Ongoing work on the safety of nanomaterials’ (submitted by the expert from France).

The report provides basic information on nanotechnology and outlines current work about nanomaterials: 

1. European Commission Communication
2. Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006: Regulation concerning the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH)
3. Scientific Committee on Emerging and newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)
4. Joint action for safety of nanomaterials under the Public Health Program 2009

1. Standardisation: ISO Technical Committee on nanotechnologies (ISO TC 229 “nanotechnologies”)(33 participating countries, 7 observing countries)
2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The paper asks the following questions:

• Can it be considered, for the same chemical (same CAS and purity) that nanomaterials with new properties have the same hazards as conventional form?
• Is it possible to distinguish for a same chemical, the properties of its different nanoforms?
• How can this be done? Should new endpoints be determined?
• To which extent information about nanomaterials need be provided?
• What kind of information is needed?
• What kind of communication tool is needed for this purpose?
• What kind of collaboration can be suggested in order to contribute to clarification of nanomaterials hazard classification and indeed to heath safety and environmental issues of nanomaterials?

Follow these links to find out more about the UN Committee, or to download the full paper.