May 19, 2011

ISO Publishes Standard for Nanomaterial Risk Evaluation

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a new standard, ISO/TR 13121:2011, which describes a process for identifying, evaluating, addressing, making decisions about, and communicating the potential risks of developing and using manufactured nanomaterials to protect the health and safety of the public, consumers, workers, and the environment.  According to ISO, the standard offers guidance on the information needed to make sound risk evaluations and risk...
May 17, 2011

ECHA Preparing Nano Inventory from REACH and CLP Submissions

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is compiling an inventory of nanomaterials included in the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration dossiers and Classification, Labeling, and Packaging (CLP) notifications for the European Commission (EC), and intends to deliver the inventory by the end of June 2011. The EC requested the inventory in response to the 2009 European Parliament communication on nanomaterials. An ECHA spokesperson stated that...
May 11, 2011

EFSA Publishes Guidance for Assessing Engineered Nanomaterial Applications in Food and Feed

On May 10, 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a guidance document for the risk assessment of engineered nanomaterial (ENM) applications in food and feed. According to EFSA, the guidance “is the first of its kind to give practical guidance for addressing potential risks arising from applications of nanoscience and nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain.” The guidance covers risk assessments for food and feed applications, including food additives, enzymes,...
May 10, 2011

EPA Will Suspend Next IUR Reporting Period

According to a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication in the May 11, 2011, Federal Register, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) regulations by suspending the next IUR submission period, which would otherwise run from June 1, 2011, to September 30, 2011. The IUR requires manufacturers, including importers, of certain chemical substances included on the...
May 10, 2011

UCSF’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment Publishes Recommendations for Addressing Health Risks from Nanomaterials in California

Last week, the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment announced the publication of its “Recommendations for Addressing Potential Health Risks from Nanomaterials in California,” which provides recommendations for addressing potential health risks from nanomaterials to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and to the state of California.  OEHHA contracted with UCSF to prepare the report, which provides...
May 9, 2011

Photo: TSCA Reform Webinar

Photo taken during the May 9, 2011 TSCA Reform Webinar. Pictured : Dr. Richard A. Denison, Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. Jim Aidala, Senior Government Consultant, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Andy Ingrejas, National Campaign Director, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Lynn L. Bergeson, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
May 9, 2011

EPA Issues Final SNUR for Certain Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

On May 6, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final significant new use rule (SNUR) under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical substance identified generically as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), which was the subject of premanufacture notice (PMN) P-08-199. Under the final SNUR, persons intending to manufacture, import, or process MWCNT for a use that is designated as a significant new use by the final rule must...
May 6, 2011

EPA Issues Final SNUR for Certain Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

On May 6, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final significant new use rule (SNUR) under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical substance identified generically as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), which was the subject of premanufacture notice (PMN) P-08-199. Under the final SNUR, persons intending to manufacture, import, or process MWCNT for a use that is designated as a significant new use by the final rule must notify...