On August 23, 2017, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Federal Register notice requesting comment on its draft National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) for Manufacturing for public comment. The NORA Manufacturing Sector Council wrote the Agenda, which “identifies the most important occupational safety and health research needs for the next decade, 2016-2026.” According to NIOSH, the Agenda provides a vehicle...
August 23, 2017
2017 EU-U.S. Workshop Will Be Held September 7-8, 2017
The 2017 European Union (EU)-U.S. “Bridging NanoEHS Research Efforts Joint Workshop” will be held September 7-8, 2017, at the University of Birmingham. The workshop will be activity-driven, and the activity will be to consider current (and future) approaches to nano environmental and health safety (nanoEHS) research to close the gap between research and regulation. The activity will focus on nanomaterials testing, grouping, and read-across methodologies, using case-studies to provide...
According to a July 12, 2017, press release, a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGO) wrote to the French Prime Minister and several ministers to call for labeling and restriction of nanomaterials in consumer products. The NGOs request that three measures be taken “as a matter of urgency”: Temporarily ban titanium dioxide particles present in E171 dye until the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) working group on nano and...
August 17, 2017
NIOSH Report Highlighting Second Decade of Research Agenda Includes Nano Developments
On August 10, 2017, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a report entitled National Occupational Research Agenda: Second Decade in Review | 2006-2016. The report outlines the progress and impact made in addressing occupational safety and health research needs over the second decade of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). The 21 cross-sector programs included in the report include the Nanotechnology Program, which...
On August 14, 2017, as the final Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) information gathering rule on nanomaterials took effect, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published “working guidance” intended to assist stakeholders in complying with the rule. The working guidance notes that it “will not provide answers to all of the potential questions that will arise as manufacturers and processors seek to comply with the rule. Commenters to the draft guidance asked...
August 8, 2017
ClientEarth Files Complaint with EU Ombudsman over EC Catalog of Nanomaterials Used in Cosmetic Products
ClientEarth announced on July 31, 2017, that it filed a complaint with the European Union (EU) Ombudsman about the European Commission’s (EC) “unlawful handling of a long-delayed list of nano-chemicals in cosmetics.” As reported in our June 19, 2017, blog item, the EC published June 15, 2017, a catalog of nanomaterials used in cosmetic products on the EU market. ClientEarth states that “[d]espite the lengthy delay, the list still does not let people...
August 7, 2017
EC Publishes NanoData Landscape Compilation Reports
On June 8, 2017, the European Commission (EC) published eight NanoData Landscape Compilation reports. The EC states that the reports offer a snapshot of the environment for nanotechnology in different application fields: NanoData Landscape Compilation: Health: This report offers a snapshot of the status of the environment for nanotechnology in the context of health. Analysis of that environment, trends in the data, and the effects of European policies and actions...
August 4, 2017
NIEHS Using Survey to Update 2012-2017 Strategic Plan
Dr. Linda S. Birnbaum, Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), wrote an editorial in Environmental Health Perspectives on “Updating the NIEHS Strategic Plan.” According to Birnbaum, NIEHS is developing a plan to guide its next five years and seeks broad input. NIEHS has created an online survey, “Trends & Insights: Next Steps for NIEHS,” through which stakeholders can provide feedback on the existing Strategic Plan, as well as...
On July 20, 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced 13 grants worth $4.6 million for research on the next generation of agricultural technologies and systems to meet the growing demand for food, fuel, and fiber. NIFA states that funded projects support nanotechnology-based solutions that improve food production, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and food safety. The announced grants include:...
On July 17, 2017, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Federal Register notice announcing it submitted a proposed information collection to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. The proposed project is “Survey of Engineered Nanomaterial Occupational Safety and Health Practices.” As reported in our February 14, 2017, blog item, NIOSH invited comment on the proposed survey on February 10, 2017. NIOSH will survey companies...