NIA Newsletter
In support of a balanced view of nanotechnologies, the NIA provides a comprehensive round-up of the latest global nanotechnology news, NIA membership news and press releases, and nanotechnology events.
The NIA newsletter is free to NIA members, and available for a small annual fee to non-members
Sign up here to receive our newsletter.
NIA calls for strategic Research Planning in Collaboration with Industries
The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) has submitted consolidate comments to the European Commission Consultation ‘Towards a Strategic Nanotechnology Action Plan (SNAP) 2010-2015’.
The electronic submission tool was somewhat restrictive, and many answers need to be given in a multiple-choice format[1]; free text, however, was submitted to the following two questions:
Which new EU policy actions related to nanotechnologies should be envisaged?
[The Commission should] conduct and update a gap-analysis of (eco)toxicology data on nanomaterials (in collab[oration] with OECD WPMN and industry); [the outcomes of this should ultimately contribute to] set[ting] FP7/FP8 research spending to address gaps, & publically discuss the results [of the research projects].
Other suggestions - comments (max. 1200 characters):
[The Commission should] include: (a) specific targets, measurable against milestones and deliverables, (b) increased strategic research planning in collaboration with industries, (c) stronger collaboration with international fora, in order to avoid trade issues and to maximise the outcome of research and development work, (d) creation of common definitions regarding terminology, nomenclature and categorization, (e) strengthen efforts in the development of potential hazard and exposure data, as well as the relevance of ‘conventional’; (eco)toxicology tests, (d) consider establishment of a centre of excellence at the EU level, in order to collect, interpret and manage all the results/information generated at the EU level. This dedicated centre would be very helpful by providing appropriate advice to each stakeholder, (e) combine risk assessment considerations with risk management practicalities, (d) continue to drive risk assessment and management mainly based on a case-by-case approach where the precautionary/proportion principle is adjusted according to expert’ advices; for all of the above: seek specific collaborations with OECD WPMN, OECD WPN, ISO, and Members States.
Follow these links in order to find out more about the European Commission’s SNAP Consultation.
Registered NIA Members can download a PDF print of the NIA's full online submission from the 'Members only'-area on the NIA website by following the link to 'Restricted Docs & Pubs’.
NIA commences new Project to inform the European REACH Regulation on Nanomaterials’ Requirements
In the latest Issues of Nanomaterials World (Volume 6, Issues 7, 17th February 2010), Dr Steffi Friedrichs, Director General of the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), describes the aim and potential outcome of the NIA’s two new project concerned with ‘REACH Implementation Plans on Nanomaterials (RIP-oNs): Scientific and technical Support on Nanomaterials’.
‘Our essential aim is to review our requirements for the fulfilment of REACH legislation, looking where nanotechnology-specific requirements might need to come into place,’ states Dr Friedrichs. ‘The current requirements have so far been achieved by general risk assessment, on a case-by-case basis. We will advise where additional material on specific nanomaterials requirements might be necessary.’
Follow this link to read the full article in Nanomaterials World (subscribers only).
NIA warns Australian Authorities of burdensome Notification
The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) has provided comments to Proposal for Regulatory Reform of Industrial Nanomaterials’, published as part of a public consultation by the Australian Government, Department of Health & Ageing – National Industrial Chemicals Notification Scheme (NICNAS) in November 2009.
On the topic of ‘Definition of ‘Nanomaterials’’, the NIA noted that ‘clarification is required on the terms ‘intentionally produced, manufactured or engineered’ and ‘specific properties or specific composition’.Moreover, the definition should be practical and implementable in the regulatory context, within which it is being proposed, and it should be flexible to change, in order to specifically accommodate the developments of definitions in the aforementioned international fora.’
Regarding the proposed ‘NICNAS notification categories (Permits and certificates)’, the NIA alerted the authorities that ‘the specific necessary characteristics used to uniquely describe nanomaterials, differ significantly between materials and with application, and over-generalised mandatory requirements for the measurement and notification of unnecessary physical-chemical endpoints can cause enormous economic burden [on the notifier]. In turn, the proposed administrative exclusion from self-assessment (on the basis of the uncertainty concerning their hazard) and subsequent plans for the hazard status of the nanomaterials and the risk posed by the notified uses to be assessed by NICNAS may pose an enormous workload on the authorities.’
Comments were submitted within the format required by NICNAS, but a full reproduction of all comment can be downloaded here (NIA PDF document).
Nanomaterials under the new European Cosmetics Regulation – NIA helps clarifying the Requirements and Consequences
In a joint Correspondence to the Editor of the journal Nature Nanotechnology (February 2010, Volume 5 No 2), Diana M Bowman[1], Geert van Calster[2], and Steffi Friedrichs[3] summarise last year’s passing of the first nano-specific legislation: the European Union’s new regulation on cosmetic products. Entitled ‘Nanomaterials and Regulation of Cosmetics’, the correspondence highlights the political and economical significance of this novel regulation and outlines the specific requirements that industries need to address, in order to comply with the regulation. ‘The adoption of this regulation is significant, not least because it is the first piece of national or supranational legislation to incorporate rules relating specifically to the use of nanomaterials in any products,’ the correspondence notes.
Follow these links to find out more about the European Union’s new regulation on cosmetics products, or to read the full ‘Correspondence to the Editor’ (doi:10.1038/nnano.2010.12; subscriber sonly).
NIA to help develop Advice on the Assessment of Nanomaterials under REACH
Two contracts concerning the development of specific advice on the assessment of nanomaterials under REACH have been awarded by the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission’s Directorate General Joint Research Centre (JRC) to a consortium led by SAFENANO (Institute of Occupational Medicine), and including the Nanotechnology Industries Association, Cefic, and Soluzioni Informatiche:
The first project, RIP-oN2 (aka REACH-NanoInfo), addresses the REACH information requirements on intrinsic properties of nanomaterials. The second project, RIP-oN3 (aka REACH-NanoHazEx), addresses undertaking exposure assessments and conducting hazard and risk characterisation for nanomaterials within the REACH context.
The output from the projects will be developed over a period of 12-16 months in consultation with a range of stakeholders and will be used by the European Commission to support further developments in REACH Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment. Both projects start in January 2010.
Follow these links to download the full press release, or to find out more about the projects RIP-oN2 and RIP-oN3 (NIA website) / RIP-oN2(REACH-NanoInfo) and RIP-oN3 (REACH-NanoHazEx) (SAFENANO website).
'PROSPEcT - Ecotoxicology Test Protocols for Representative Nanomaterials in Support of the OECD Sponsorship Programme', the NIA's flagship project on nanomaterials safety, has launched its dedicated PROSPECT project website. (3rd December 2009)
9th October 2009: Stakeholder Conference: Nanomaterials on the Market - What Regulators Need to Know
When ‘Information’ turns into ‘Warning’ - NIA cautions against careless labelling
In an interview with the German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche (WiWo) (14th January 2010), Dr Steffi Friedrichs, Director General of the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), warns of the potentially negative effects resulting from ill-designed product labels: ‘if the ‘nano’-label is placed on the front of a product pack, it would turn into a ‘warning-label’, she comments on the draft recast of the ‘Novel Foods’ regulation.
The WiWo-article reports the results of a survey conducted by the Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen (vzbv) (German Federation of Consumer Associations), which showed last autumn that 64 percent of Germans regarded nanotechnology a positive technology; 87 percent of the same surveyed also expressed fears of potential health threats through nanotechnology.
Ruediger Iden, Senior Vice-President of BASF commented: ‘In Germany, nanotechnology enjoys a higher acceptance than in the USA.’ But public support is ‘fragile and could quickly tumble into negative perception’, notes Antje Grobe from the University of Stuttgart and the Nanodialogue (Stiftung Risiko-Dialogue, St Gallen, Switzerland).
Follow this link to read the full WiWo-article.
Nanotechnologies – des avantages économiques autant qu’écologiques
Il y a un report spécial de ‘nanotechnologies’ dans ce numéro du ‘Forward - le magazine d'opinion de la Fédération des Entreprises de Belgique (FEB)’ : avec un titre de ‘L’avancée discrète des nanotechnologies – La nano devient macro’ en couverture, on trouve des articles (Forward, Décembre 2009):
- Nano : la fin du début - A l'aube d'une industrialisation des applications
- La bataille ‘nano’ de la R&D - Ne pas rater le train des nanotechnologies
- Interview de Luc Van den Hove, président d'IMEC - "Les avantages pèsent plus lourd que les éventuels dangers"
- Nanocompétitivité - L'utilisation des nanotechnologies revêt souvent un caractère hyperconfidentiel
L’article ‘Un cadre réglementaire à construire’ explique que ‘tous nos interlocuteurs reconnaissent le besoin de créer un climat de confiance et de transparence autour des nanotechnologies. Sinon, une forme de paranoïa risque de se développer dans l’opinion publique.’ "Une chose est sûre, il y a un besoin urgent d'informer sur ce que sont les nanoparticules et quels en sont les avantages," ajoute Steffi Friedrichs […] directrice de la Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), un groupe de pression basé à Bruxelles, qui défend les intérêts d'entreprises de toutes tailles et de tous secteurs qui investissent dans les nanotechnologies.’
Cliquez ici pour trouver plus d’information de ‘Forward’, pour trouver le sommaire du magazine du Décembre, ou pour lire les articles de nanotechnologies dans ce numéro (Décembre 2009).
Related Links:
High-Tech Industries Associations support a common Strategy for Key Enabling Technologies in the EU
A coalition of seven high-tech industries associations, led by SEMI (Semiconductor, Equipment and Materials International), has published Comments on the European Commission’s Communication ‘Preparing for our future: Developing a common strategy for key enabling technologies in the EU’ (COM(2009) 512). (2nd November 2009)
High-Tech Industries Associations support a common Strategy for Key Enabling Technologies in the EU
A coalition of seven high-tech industries associations, led by SEMI (Semiconductor, Equipment and Materials International), has published Comments on the European Commission’s Communication ‘Preparing for our future: Developing a common strategy for key enabling technologies in the EU’ (COM(2009) 512).
In its Comments, the coalition* recognises ‘the importance of points raised in the Communication such as R&D, Lead Markets, Skilled Engineers, Financing, IP Protection, but we would like to emphasize the sense of urgency, more specifically regarding the following points:
* Members of the commenting coalition of industries associations: SEMI (Semiconductor, Equipment and Materials International), NIA (Nanotechnology Industries Association), Plastic Electronic Foundation, EPIA (European Photovoltaic Industry Association), JEMI UK (Joint Equipment and Materials Initiative UK), JEMI France (Joint Equipment and Materials Initiative France), Silicon Saxony.
Follow this link to download the full Coalition Comment.
NIA gives evidence to UK House of Lords hearing on ‘Nanotechnologies and Food’
Following the written comments, which the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) submitted to the UK House of Lords enquiry on ‘Nanotechnologies and Food’, Dr Steffi Friedrichs, Director of the NIA, was invited as a witness to give evidence in front of the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee I.
The hearing commenced on the question of a ‘suitable definition’ for nanotechnologies and nanomaterials:
Dr Friedrichs noted that ‘[...] the purpose for which we are seeking a definition is the one that always needs to be mentioned when a definition is being sought; without that definitions can be quite detrimental and misleading. [...] a definition for risk assessment needs to be very different from a definition for technology and innovation. And the problem that we have at the moment is that we are dealing with number different definitions on a number of different levels.’
‘Another aspect is that when we then go into the public domain and talk about a definition: [...] reports by NGOs or by consumer associations about the understood or perceived presence of nanotechnologies in consumer products, [...] are quite often using different definitions form the ones that the industry is using. [...] They are both saying the same thing, they are just not agreeing on the same definition. So, my appeal would be to always disclose the definition the one is using for any discussion up front, so that any misunderstanding [...] can be avoided.’
Follow these links to find out more about the UK House of Lords enquiry into ‘Nanotechnologies in Food’, or to watch the full webcast of the hearing.
The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) has submitted ‘Comments on the UK House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee - Call for Evidence: Nanotechnologies and Food.’ (20th March 2009)
NIA calls for clarity in discussions about nanotechnologies
‘Industry has been upfront about its use of promising new technologies and that companies go to great lengths to ensure products are safe’, confirms Steffi Friedrichs, director of the Nanotechnology Industries Association, at a Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) event, held in Brussels on the 10th June 2009.
Under the title Regulating Nanotechnology in Food and Consumer Products: Developing A Consumer-focused Transatlantic Approach, the meeting aimed to encourage a ‘discussion concerning the regulatory approaches adopted by the EU and US and the necessary steps for ensuring that products containing nanotechnologies are safe and beneficial to consumers. The conference also aimed to help consumer organisations who are starting to work on these issues to further develop their understanding.’
Dr Andrew Maynard, chief science advisor to the 'Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies' at the Woodrow Wilson Center, phrased concern ‘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.’ ‘We have seen some companies drop the 'nano' claim while continuing to use nanotechnology. This suggests nanotechnology is going underground,’ he said.
This concern was echoed by Harald Throne, researcher at the National Institute for Consumer Research in Norway, who said he found evidence that ‘suggests that companies may now view 'nano' as a negative label rather than an added value.’
In response to the lack of clarity and reliable information on the actual number of nanotechnology-enable products on the market, Friedrichs ‘pointed to confusion about the definition of nanotechnology, with some NGOs defining 'nano' as materials smaller than 300 nanometres, while the industry uses the definition of less than 100 nanometres.’
'Varying definitions leads to claims that the industry is not open with information. But nobody is lying and nobody is misleading the public or authorities. Let's agree on what we're talking about and work together to inform consumers,’ she said.
Follow these links to find out more about the TACD event, or to read the full article on the EurActiv.com website.