In July 2020, the German Environment Agency (UBA) published a report entitled Advanced materials: Overview of the field and screening criteria for relevance assessment. The report describes activities within the project “Advanced materials — Thematic conferences: Assessment of needs to act on chemical safety” to provide discussion input on approaches to describe, cluster, and
International
OECD Publishes Guidance Documents for the Testing and Assessment of Nanomaterials
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
Posted in International, Research
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently published two guidance documents in its series on testing and assessment:
- Guidance Document on Aquatic and Sediment Toxicological Testing of Nanomaterials (No. 317): The guidance document addresses practical aspects of carrying out valid tests with manufactured nanomaterials, as well as modifications or additions to OECD Test
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EUON Nanopinion Highlights Benefits of Bio-Based Nanomaterials
On July 23, 2020, the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) published a Nanopinion entitled “Material manufacturing from nano-scaled particles: moving forward using plants” by Dr. Blaise Tardy, Research Fellow, Bio-Based Colloids and Materials Research Group — Aalto University in Finland. Dr. Tardy notes that bio-based nanomaterials such as nanocellulose “have shown…
EFSA Consults on Draft Guidance on Technical Requirements for Regulated Food and Feed Product Applications to Establish the Presence of Small Particles, Including Nanoparticles
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
Posted in International, Legal/Regulatory Issues
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has begun a public consultation on a draft document entitled “EFSA Guidance on Technical Requirements for Regulated Food and Feed Product Applications to Establish the Presence of Small Particles Including Nanoparticles.” The draft Guidance sets out information requirements for applications in the regulated food and feed product areas and…
ISO Publishes Standards Regarding Measurements of Nanoparticle Size and Shape Distribution and Polymeric Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging with Barrier Properties
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
Posted in International, Research
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published two nanotechnology standards:
- ISO 21363:2020, “Nanotechnologies — Measurements of particle size and shape distributions by transmission electron microscopy”: The standard specifies how to capture, measure, and analyze transmission electron microscopy images to obtain particle size and shape distributions in the nanoscale. According to ISO, the
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Nanodatabase Adds Product Number 4,000
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
Posted in International
The Nanodatabase has posted a June 1, 2020, press release announcing that it has added product number 4,000 in its database. According to the press release, silver is still the nanomaterial most often reported, with titanium and titanium dioxide the second and third most common. The press release notes that for almost 3,000 products, the…
EUON Publishes Nanopinion on Polymer-Based Nanocomposites
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
Posted in International, Legal/Regulatory Issues
On July 1, 2020, the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) published a Nanopinion entitled “Polymer based nanocomposites – enabling innovation, resource efficiency and helping to fight climate change” by Dr. Sabine Lindner, Consumer and Environmental Affairs, PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V. Dr. Lindner notes how the addition of nanoscale particles to plastic matrices…
EC Amends REACH Annex II to Include SDS Requirements for Nanoforms
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
Posted in International, Legal/Regulatory Issues
On June 26, 2020, the European Commission (EC) published a regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union that amends Annex II of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. Annex II describes the requirements for compiling safety data sheets (SDS). The EC notes that specific requirements for nanoforms of substances…
EU NanoSafety Cluster Holding Webinar on June 30 on Immune Response from Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanofibers
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
On June 30, 2020, from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (EDT), the European Union (EU) NanoSafety Cluster will hold a webinar on “Immune response from occupational exposure to CNTs and nanofibres.” The following speakers will discuss work at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health…
EUON Nanopinion Addresses Pigments, “the Oldest Nanomaterials in Human History”
By Lynn L. Bergeson & Carla N. Hutton on
Posted in International, Legal/Regulatory Issues
The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) posted a Nanopinion on June 12, 2020, entitled “Pigments: The oldest nanomaterials in human history facing modern day challenges.” Dr. Heike Liewald, Managing Director, Eurocolour e.V., and Giuliana Beck, Advisor, German association of producers of pigments and fillers, describe how the introduction of nano-specific requirements…