OECD Update on Current Developments on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials
The recent OECD document ("Current Developments/Activities on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials") provides an update on current developments and activities on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials in OECD member countries and other delegations that attended the 8th meeting of OECD's Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (Paris France, 16-18 March 2011). There are also written reports on current activities from other International Organisations such as the ISO, the FAO and the WHO.
In each meeting of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), the delegations have an opportunity to provide their developments on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials, so called “Tour de Table.” An earlier version of this document was originally provided to the 7th meeting held 7-9 July 2010 in Paris, France. This document compiles information provided by member countries and other delegations on current developments on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials (section I) in their countries or organisations. There are also written reports on current activities related to nanotechnologies / nanomaterials in other International Organisations including the International Organisation for Standardisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health
Organisation (section II).
This is intended to provide delegations and other stakeholders with a “snapshot” of information on activities related to manufactured nanomaterials, as well as other activities on nanotechnologies, at the national and international level. This “snapshot” was current at the time of the 8th meeting of the WPMN (March 2011).
The purpose of the Tour de Table is to give each delegation the opportunity to describe recent or planned national initiatives and/or events related to the safety of nanomaterials. This facilitates the implementation of the projects of the WPMN by allowing delegations to share their experiences and preoccupations with respect to safety, and identifies opportunities for future co-operation and co-ordination.
The Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials was established in 2006 to help member countries efficiently and effectively address the safety challenges of nanomaterials. OECD has a wealth of experience in developing methods for the safety testing and assessment of chemical products. The Working Party is implementing its work through specific projects to further develop appropriate methods and strategies to help ensure human health and environmental safety:
- OECD Database on Manufactured Nanomaterials to Inform and Analyse EHS Research Activities;
- Safety Testing of a Representative Set of Manufactured Nanomaterials;
- Manufactured Nanomaterials and Test Guidelines;
- Co-operation on Voluntary Schemes and Regulatory Programmes;
- Co-operation on Risk Assessment;
- The role of Alternative Methods in Nanotoxicology;
- Exposure Measurement and Exposure Mitigation; and
- Environmentally Sustainable Use of Manufactured Nanomaterials
Source: OECD