DEFRA Posts Fifth Quarterly Report on the Voluntary Reporting Scheme

According to the December 22, 2007, fifth quarterly report for the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) Voluntary Reporting Scheme (VRS) for engineered nanoscale materials, DEFRA received no new submissions since publication of the previous quarterly report in September 2007. DEFRA is in the process of updating the VRS documentation to clarify the purpose and aims of the VRS and provide supplementary guidance for anyone submitting data. DEFRA intends to publish the revised guidance in early February 2008. DEFRA will include a letter to relevant stakeholders in the industry and research communities, restating the strategic importance of the VRS.