OECD Announces Launch of Nanomaterials Testing Program/

On December 4, 2007, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) posted a notice entitled “Testing a Representative Set of Nanomaterials — The Launch of a Sponsorship Programme.” OECD states that its Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials has launched a sponsorship program in which countries will share the testing of specific nanomaterials. According to OECD, valuable information on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials can be derived by testing a representative set for human health and environmental safety. In launching the sponsorship program, the Working Party agreed to a priority list of manufactured nanomaterials for testing, based on materials which are in or close to commerce, as well as a list of endpoints for which they should be tested. OECD intends to make regular updates on this program.