{"id":2772,"date":"2013-07-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/neu.innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/7th-international-nano-authorities-dialogue-governance-of-nanomaterials\/"},"modified":"2016-06-07T16:15:19","modified_gmt":"2016-06-07T14:15:19","slug":"7th-international-nano-authorities-dialogue-governance-of-nanomaterials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/7th-international-nano-authorities-dialogue-governance-of-nanomaterials\/","title":{"rendered":"7th International Nano-Authorities Dialogue \"Governance of Nanomaterials\""},"content":{"rendered":"

Austria as Host of the 7. Int. Nano-Authorities Dialogue<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Thomas Jakl (Head of Division) of the Austrian life ministry (Lebensministerium) welcomed the participants from Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland on behalf of the ministry at the Palace of Sch\u00f6nbrunn. He determined a generally high level of activity in the nano regulation area\u00a0 in all German-speaking countries. On the enforcement-side of the regulations,\u00a0 test-methods and measuring-procedures play a dominant role presently. In the area of the occupational health and safety regulation many guidelines and information materials for the safe use in practical applications have been developed.\u00a0 The governance of nanomaterials and nanoproducts still represents a crosscutting task for politics and administrations. From an authority point-of-view, the tasks of different, federal offices and departments like environment, health, economy and occupational safety should\u00a0 be more coordinated on a common approach. Jakl suggested that in the future a stronger transnational cooperation and the use of common synergies as e.g. in the exchange of research data and results could speed up the development.\u00a0 A common best-practice approach could be the basis\u00a0 for the development of a sustainable nano governance in the future. He underpinned the importance of the Nano Authorities dialogue conference as an informal platform for authorities and to exchange knowledge and experiences among representatives of competent European Nano-Authorities. He also highlighted the role of the platform to strengthen the dialogue with stakeholders from industry, academia and politics.<\/p>\n

Many Nano Activities: Actionplans, Research-Programs and Dialogue<\/strong><\/p>\n

An interactive \u201dnano marketplace session\u201d opened\u00a0 the conference.\u00a0 Three national and one international working group discussed the present state of nano-related activities in their countries and visualized the results in a poster. Different nano action plans, dialogue programs, research projects, and many other activities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and on a global level were collected. The results were presented in a plenary session.\u00a0\u00a0 The representatives of Austria presented their nano acitivties as a railroad train.\u00a0 The \u201cnano railway locomotive\u201d is the Austrian nano action plan to which different activities and projects were attached. The \u201cNano-Trust\u201d project was mentioned as a very important science-based information project which has been publishing nano information brochures for the public since 2008. There are further risk-assessment documents for workplaces or several educational and training projects for schools or students.<\/p>\n

Representatives from Switzerland and Liechtenstein presented\u00a0 their activities in the development of the Nano-precautionary matrix and the new guideline for self-assessment for industry. The newly established obligations to report and inform for engineered nanomaterials were presented. The state of the Swiss national nano research programme (NFP 64) \u201cOpportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials\u201d and the public touring exhibition \u201cNano-Expo\u201d in combination with a public dialogue platform were presented.\u00a0\u00a0 Representatives from Germany presented the actual state of the \"Nano-Actionplan 2015\" and discussed the first outcomes of the research strategy of the federal higher authorities. In the area of the work protection, guidelines\u00a0 and measuring strategies, also for carbon nanotubes (CNT), were developed. A survey on the use and the application of nano materials in companies has been conducted. Responsible staff will be trained and educated in the safe use and handling of nano materials and in work protection measures.\u00a0 On the international level the treatment of nano materials in multilateral environmental agreements was discussed.\u00a0 A globally valid and accepted nano definition was discussed an also the treatment of nano materials in the \"Globally Harmonized system of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).\" These are two main challenges which nano governance on international level is presently facing.\u00a0 Otto Linher from the European Commission specified the role of the REACH regulation in terms of the regulation of nano materials and announced nano-specific modifications of the appendices. Future measures and initiatives of the new EU Commission remained to be seen. In the subsequent panel discussion, the nano definition of the European Commission and the implementation of appropriate nano-specific laboratory methods for the identification, characterization and testing of nano materials were identified as main cruxes of the matter and main challenges of the future.<\/p>\n

Nano Regulation in Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the basis of the actual enactment of the new EU cosmetics regulation and the biocides regulation the application of the nano-specific implications on national levels were discussed.\u00a0 Dr. Marcus Garz\u00f3n from the German federal ministry for the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety explained the EU biocide regulation which will be enacted in September 2013 in all European countries.\u00a0 Nano materials become labeling-compulsory in products like insect sprays or wood-preservative chemicals.\u00a0 The member states are requested by the EC\u00a0 to report data about to the application of nano materials in biocide products and also about potential risks. There is a possibility to notify the nanoform\u00a0 in the chemical receipt on the basis of the existing substances regulations later. Dr. Karin Gromann, cosmetics expert of the Austrian health ministry expounded the EC cosmetics regulation and the challenges which authorities are presently faced with. The most difficult challenges at the execution of the regulation, especially in respect to the monitoring requirements, would emerge from the lacking of analytic standard procedures, reference materials, infrastructure and also the lack of human, technical and financial ressources.<\/p>\n

Workers Protection and Occupational Health in Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n

The main topic \u201cnanomaterials and workers protection\u201d was presented by several experts from the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and also by a manufacturer of nano materials. Dr. Reinhold R\u00fchl of the German Professional Construction Association (BG BAU) explained: \u201cWhile general nano risks are often mentioned, the producer of nano materials hardly mention protective measures of workers and users of these materials.\u201d From this point of view there is a clear need for action in this field. For the Professional Associations this means an improved consulting activity in terms of workers protection against potential exposures and risks. For the construction industry a list of approximately 70 nano materials has been published which are used in construction products. \u201cThere is a need for respiratory protection\u00a0 against nano materials protection while nano paints or lacquers are sprayed or removed from the surface by abrasive finishing.\u201d His colleague Dr. Markus Berges stressed the importance of the hierarchic principle of the protective measurements (STOP). While personal protective equipment should be applied at the end. The first step should be to look for alternatives in the application. The application of paints by paint brushes is less dangerous to workers than spraying. The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) will therefore develop an online nano qualification platform in order to improve the knowledge basis about the safe handling and use of nano materials in workplaces.\u00a0 At the end of this block Prof. Andr\u00e9 Lecloux from Nanocyl presented the worker protection measurements which are taken in the production of carbon nanotubes as e. g. respiratory protection, air ventilation of the production sites and regular medical checkups of the potentially exposed workers in the production and the handling of CNT.<\/p>\n

Particular Challenges by CNT<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are contributions to the current scientific research about the topic CNTs from toxicology, work-hygiene and legal and regulatory practice. CNT have a wide rage of applications and are used in many different products. The growing number of applications also enlarges the exposition of human health and the environment against CNT.\u00a0 Prof. Myrtill Simk\u00f3 of the Austrian institute for Technology-Assessment explained the scientific comparison between CNT implications and the damaging consequences of asbestos fibers. While there is still a lively, scientific discussion about the effect mechanisms of\u00a0 CNT on cells and tissues, there are already some alarming signals from animal experiments that CNT fibers with specific properties of length, stiffness, biopersistence behave like asbestos fibers in the lung and lead to asbestos-like lung diseases. Dr. Rolf Packroff\u00a0 from the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health\u00a0 (BAuA) therefore explained:\u00a0 \"For activities which could lead to dust-exposure to fibrous, long, stiff and biopersistent CNT the protective measures and the corresponding assessment factors should be similar to occupational health standards which are applied to asbestos exposure.\u201d The medical and toxicological advisory service to workers and employers is very important.\u00a0 The BAuA therefore develops training and information material which company medical officers can use for instructions in order to sensitize workers and management.\u00a0 Prof. Rainer Schweizer from the University of St.Gallen elucidated the legal points from liability perspective. He stated that for nanotechnologies there are knowledge gaps about relevant risks of nanotechnologies which are scientifically known but not yet manageable on the technical side. According to basic legal principles of liability the companies as producers of nano materials and the manufacturer of nano products are liable for damages to human health or to the environment. On the other hand also the authorities are responsible and could be made liable in government liability claims. Compared to other new technologies Prof. Schweizer stated that nanotechnology companies protect against liability claims by development risks, because there have been strong scientific evidence for potential risks emerging from specific nano materials.<\/p>\n

Date Announcement<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 8th Int.\u00a0 Nano-Authority-dialogue will take place 14\/15 May 2014.<\/p>\n

Source: The Innovation Society St.Gallen<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 7th International Nano-Authorities Dialogue with Governance officials from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland took place on 14 and 15 May in Vienna. The Austrian life ministry (Lebensministerium) invited representatives of public authorities dealing with regulatory issues of nanotechnology in health, environment and occupational safety areas. The participants from German-speaking countries exchanged views over the current state of the nano regulation and outlined an interim state of the present regulation. On the basis of existing and planned nano regulations in health, environment, occupational safety and product regulation the audience discussed the challenges and future developments of existing regulations and governance models on European and global level. The annual Nano Authorities Dialogue conference series is being organized on behalf of the authorities by the Innovation Society, St.Gallen since 2008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nanotechnology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2772"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11892,"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2772\/revisions\/11892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovationsgesellschaft.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}