New Mandatory Reporting Schemes Underway
An increasing number of government agencies intend to introduce some sort of mandatory reporting schemes on the use of nanomaterials. After the voluntary reporting schemes by UK Defra and US EPA, two recent examples are France and Canada.
France
As part of the response to national consultation on environmental issues launched in France during 2008, alterations to environmental legislation proposed to the French Government on January 7th have outlined suggested changes to the existing Environmental Code (Title II, Part V), including specific provision for substances in a nanoparticulate state.
The new legislation, which focuses on prevention of risks to health and the environment from exposure to substances in a nanoparticulate state, includes a proposal that those who manufacture, import or place on the market nanoparticulate substances periodically report to the administrative authorities the identity, quantity and uses of these substances. In addition, a further note declares that information on identity and use of substances should be made available to the public, except if doing so would be potentially damaging to national defense.
The propsed legislation also outlines a requirement that those who manufacture, import or place on the market the substances outlined be prepared on the requests of authority to provide all available information on the dangers of these substances, and potential exposures which may drive these.
Canada
Canadian companies that manufacture or import more than one kilogram of a nanomaterial will be required to report their use of nanomaterials under a new notice to be published in February by the Canadian government.
The notice's information requirements will be mandatory, although companies not covered by the notice are requested to voluntarily follow the requirements. Sujata Raisinghani, spokeswoman for Environment Canada, said "[T]he information required under the notice would include basic information on the quantity of the substance that is manufactured or imported, details about the use of the substance, any data on physical and chemical properties, toxicity data currently available to respondents, and information on the procedures, policies, and technological solutions that have been put in place to prevent or minimize releases of the substance to the environment and exposure to individuals."
Sources: SafeNano, NanoDev News