Swiss Government publishes Precautionary Matrix for Manufactured Nanomaterials
The Precautionary Matrix is intended to allow industry and trade companies to take a structured approach in recognising potential risks in the handling of manufactured nanomaterials. After a testing phase of one year the Matrix will be optimised and adapted according to the experiences and needs of its users.
The Swiss Government has today announced publication of a new Precautionary Matrix for Synthetic Nanomaterials. The matrix was specifically designed to enable industrial and commercial enterprises to follow a standardized approach in identifying risks of synthetic nanomaterials. It will be tested for one year before being adjusted according to the experiences and needs expressed by users.
The matrix was developed under a mandate from the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). It can measure, in uniform, potential risks posed by synthetic nanomaterials and practices are made to workers, consumers and the environment.
Its aim is to help industrial and commercial enterprises to evaluate their products and manufacturing processes - if a danger is identified, preventive measures can be taken at both health and environmental levels. In developing new products, the matrix will serve as a basis for risk management, enabling an initial analysis based on current knowledge and determination of whether more thorough checks are necessary.
The matrix is currently being tested both nationally and internationally. Industrial and commercial enterprises, scientists, consumer and environmental protection organizations the have been closely involved in the project's development, and will participate in the optimization work currently underway. The tool was made available to interested representatives from research, industry and non-governmental organizations in late November.
The precautionary matrix on synthetic nanomaterials was established under the Swiss Plan of Action for Synthetic Nanomaterials, approved in April 2008 by the Swiss Federal Council.
The Precautionary Matrix may be downloaded here.
Source: Federal Authorities, SafeNano