EU Academy Offers Free Online Course on Nanomaterials in EU Legislation

The EU Academy, an online hub owned by the European Union (EU), is offering an online course on how EU legislation addresses nanomaterials. The target audience includes:

• Scientists working within the fields of nanomaterials safety who have a basic knowledge of what nanomaterials are; and

• National authorities and private-sector employees with a scientific background similar to nanosafety scientists and a need for information on regulation of nanomaterials in the EU.

The learning objectives include:

• Knowing what a nanomaterial is and what makes it special in a legal context;

• Knowing the European Commission’s (EC) definition of nanomaterial and the challenges to implement it;

• Knowing how these challenges can be met;

• Knowing the basis, drafting processes, structure, and types of EU legislation;

• Knowing the EU legislative framework for chemicals and how it is implemented;

• Understanding the relationship between EU and national legislation;

• Understanding why different pieces of EU legislation (the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation and legislation on biocidal products, medical devices, and cosmetic products, as well as legislation related to food) address chemicals and nanomaterials differently; and

• Understanding how REACH addresses nanomaterials.