Nano and Other Emerging Chemical Technologies Blog

On April 9, 2026, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) published its supplement to the President’s 2026 budget request. The report provides the program budget for fiscal years (FY) 2024 and 2025, as well as the requested budget for 2026. As required, it also provides a breakout of NNI’s plans and spending by NNI Program Component Area -- foundational research; applications, devices, and systems; research infrastructure and instrumentation; education and workforce development; and...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Human Food Program (HFP) has prepared a list of priority research, data, and method needs that, if fulfilled, will help FDA better understand the underlying factors that may cause or contribute to health risks from HFP-regulated products. FDA states that it provided these research, data, and method needs for researchers interested in pursuing science that is useful to advancing the safety of the U.S. food supply. According to FDA, the list may also...

On March 5, 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada (HC) published the Framework for the Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. According to Canada, the document establishes a framework for the risk assessment of nanomaterials under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), including both existing nanomaterials on the Domestic Substances List (DSL), and new nanomaterials notified under the...

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced on February 13, 2026, that it is investing up to $100 million to establish a nationwide network of open-access research facilities for quantum and nanoscale technologies, innovation, and workforce training. According to NSF, the NSF National Quantum and Nanotechnology Infrastructure (NSF NQNI) program will support up to 16 sites over five years, providing students, researchers, and industry with access to state-of-the-art fabrication and...

In January 2026, the Institute of Technology Assessment of the Austrian Academy of Sciences published a NanoTrust Dossier entitled “Occupational Exposure Limits for Nanomaterials.” The Dossier provides an overview of occupational exposure limits (OEL) for engineered nanomaterials in Europe. It highlights the challenges in establishing OELs for nanomaterials and safeguarding workers and presents initiatives to accelerate the toxicity assessment of nanomaterials. The Dossier notes that...

As part of the activities of the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has commissioned a study on “Nanomaterials used as or integrated into flame retardants.” According to EUON, the study aims to collect and review scientific and market information on nanomaterials used as or integrated into flame retardants in consumer and professional products. EUON states that the objective is to assess their performance, potential health and...

On December 12, 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a report entitled Safe and sustainable by design tools, integrative systems and platforms for nanomaterials and nano-enabled products. According to OECD, the report advances the implementation of safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) for nanomaterials by compiling and reviewing tools, integrative systems, and platforms that support design, risk assessment, and sustainability considerations. The...

On December 12, 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published a report entitled The Identification of Exposure Metrics for Use in Evaluation of Inhalation Exposure to Nano-Objects and their Aggregates and Agglomerates (NOAA) in the Workplace. The report presents a comprehensive overview, informed by a literature review, on methods for assessing and measuring inhalation exposure to nano-objects and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAA) in workplace environments....

On December 1, 2025, the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) announced the availability of a report analyzing the applications of nano-enabled textiles and their presence on the EU and global markets. The report, Information on Nano-Enabled Textiles, addresses the growing integration of nanotechnology in the textile industry, which has introduced advanced functionalities such as antimicrobial properties, enhanced durability, water repellence and ultraviolet (UV) protection....

The United Kingdom (UK) NanoSafety Group (UKNSG) has published the third edition of its guidance entitled “Working Safely with Nanomaterials in Research & Development.” The guidance is intended to provide help and support to research laboratories in industry, research, and training organizations and academia on how to comply with their occupational health and safety legal obligations. The guidance also includes additional information to help improve health and safety systems when working...

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) announced on October 30, 2025, that the European Commission (EC) requested a scientific opinion on the safety of hydrated silica (nano), pyrogenic silica (nano), silica silylate (nano), and silica dimethyl silylate (nano). The request states that given the continued and widespread use of these silica materials in cosmetic products, and in view of the previous inconclusive assessments by SCCS and the new submission of safety data by industry, the...

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a draft guidance document on in vitro testing for intestinal fate of orally ingested nanomaterials. According to OECD, the new guidance document “would establish a conceptual framework and procedures for determining intestinal fate of orally ingested nanomaterials using an integrated in vitro approach simulating the human [gastrointestinal tract] environment.” The primary objective of the draft guidance document...

On October 21, 2025, the European Commission (EC) announced that it has called for evidence and begun a public consultation on the upcoming Advanced Materials Act, “a key initiative under the Competitiveness Compass.” According to the EC, the Act will establish a strategic framework for the development, deployment, and production of advanced materials. The EC states that advanced materials “are intentionally designed and engineered materials with innovative properties and functionalities,...

The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has contracted the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) and Yordas Group to undertake a study on the assessment of health and environmental hazards and risks of surface-treated nanomaterials. The aim of the study is to review and collect scientific information and data on how surface treatment can affect the properties of nanomaterials and potentially have an impact on their fate and potential risks. The study includes a market...

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a September 2025 document entitled Guidance Document on Assessing the Apparent Accumulation Potential of Nanomaterials. The document is intended to provide specific advice on how to conduct bioaccumulation tests in fish with nanomaterials following Test Guideline (TG) 305 (OECD 2012), once it has been decided that such a fish test is needed. The purpose is to offer guidance on the critical points indicated in the...

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) announced on September 18, 2025, that the European Commission (EC) has requested a scientific opinion on the safety of titanium dioxide (nano and non-nano) in cosmetic products. As reported in our May 24, 2024, blog item, on May 23, 2024, SCCS published a document entitled “Scientific Advice on Titanium dioxide (TiO2).” The document noted that the available evidence was not sufficient to exclude the genotoxicity potential of almost all of...

The Particles Platform, an informal alliance of European Union (EU) industry associations representing manufacturers of materials in the form of particles, including poorly soluble low toxicity particles (PSLT), will hold a workshop on October 2, 2025. The workshop intends to advance regulatory science on particles through new evidence on inhalation toxicity. It will explore the regulatory landscape for particles and provide attendees an opportunity to: Access the latest research on particle...

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published two standards for graphene-related two-dimensional (2D) materials: ISO/TS 9651:2025, Nanotechnologies -- Classification framework for graphene‐related 2D materials: The document specifies the characteristics and their respective measurement methods of graphene-related 2D materials in sheet and particle forms for commercial applications with the aim of classification of the materials. The classification framework...

On July 23, 2025, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced the release of the Plan of Priorities, a multi-year plan that outlines upcoming priorities for the assessment of chemical substances. The Plan includes a list of more than 30 substances and substance groups prioritized for assessment and includes new or expanded activities to help assess, control, and manage risks posed by substances. ECCC states that in selecting and prioritizing these substances, considerations included:...

On August 1, 2025, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a judgment upholding the 2022 decision of the General Court annulling the 2019 harmonized classification and labeling of titanium dioxide as a carcinogenic substance by inhalation in certain powder forms. As reported in our December 6, 2022, memorandum, the court annulled the European Commission’s (EC) decision to classify titanium dioxide as a suspected human carcinogen. The French government and the EC appealed the decision,...