The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) announced on October 5, 2018, that the NanoReg2 project, of which NIA is a partner, has published a comprehensive review of European Union (EU) legislation addressing chemical substances and the potential for grouping and read across in nanomaterials. The article, “Insights into possibilities for grouping and read-across for nanomaterials in EU chemicals legislation,” considers both the overarching regulation of chemical substances under the...
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September 27, 2018
Nanotechnology Industries Association Will Hold Open Webinar on Regulatory Priorities
The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) published an open newsletter on September 19, 2018, that includes an invitation to NIA’s October 11, 2018, open webinar on regulatory priorities. The open webinar will cover the latest news on the nanomaterials definition, amendments to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Annexes, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Malta project, and the latest news on nanowaste...
September 25, 2018
OECD Publishes Case Study on Grouping and Read-Across for the Genotoxicity of Nano Titanium Dioxide
On September 21, 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced four new case studies on integrated approaches for testing and assessment (IATA), including a Case Study on Grouping and Read-Across for Nanomaterials — Genotoxicity of Nano-TiO2. The European Union (EU) Joint Research Center (JRC) developed the case study for the genotoxicity of nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) for illustrating the practical use of IATA. The case study applies the...
June 28, 2018
NanoMONITOR Available for Testing at Facilities
NanoMONITOR announced on June 25, 2018, that the NanoMONITOR Monitoring Station is available upon request to use in facilities to obtain robust data on the concentration of engineered nanomaterials. NanoMONITOR’s brochure states that access is provided on a transnational basis with no charge to the user. According to NanoMONITOR, by developing a real-time information and monitoring system, NanoMONITOR supports the risk assessment of nanomaterials under the...
May 24, 2018
EUON Reports on Nordic Information Campaign on REACH-Relevant Regulation for Nanomaterials
On May 23, 2018, the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) published an article entitled “Nordic information campaign on REACH-relevant regulation for nanomaterials.” According to EUON, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark are coordinating an information campaign through the N-Nano project group of the Nordic Chemical Working Group of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The goal of the campaign is to develop a web-based tool to provide information on European Union...
The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has posted the workshop report from the March 9, 2018, Stakeholder Dialogue meeting. According to the report, the annual meeting focused on providing an update on EUON and allowing stakeholders an opportunity to share their views on expectations on the future development of EUON. During his welcome address, Jukka Malm, European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), acknowledged that some stakeholders preferred a mandatory register...
April 26, 2018
REACH Committee Approves Draft Regulation to Amend the REACH Annexes to Address Nanomaterials
The European Commission (EC) Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Committee voted on April 26, 2018, to amend several REACH Annexes to clarify the registration requirements for nanomaterials. According to the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) press release, the amendments address the knowledge gap regarding which substances registered under REACH are placed on the market as nanomaterials and in what quantities. ECHA states that the...
On March 5, 2018, the European Commission (EC) announced the availability of a Communication to the European Parliament (EP), the Council of the European Union (EU), and the European Economic and Social Committee on the operation of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The Communication includes proposals intended to facilitate further the implementation of REACH. The scope of the EC’s evaluation includes a...
As reported in our June 19, 2017, blog item, the European Commission (EC) published a catalog of nanomaterials used in cosmetic products on the European Union (EU) market. On February 5, 2018, the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) published a table linking nanomaterials listed in the catalog to their Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration data in the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA)...
January 22, 2018
ECHA Management Board Reviews Strategy on Substances in Nanoforms
During its December 14-15, 2017, meeting, the Management Board of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) discussed ECHA’s strategy on substances in nanoforms. According to the strategy, following recent rulings of the Board of Appeal, the “possibility for using dossier and substance evaluation under the current legal text of [the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation] to verify safe use of nanomaterials on the EU market has become...
January 8, 2018
EEB Finds Estonian EU Council Presidency Failed to Fill Regulatory Gaps on Nanomaterials
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) announced on December 22, 2017, the availability of its assessment of the environmental performance of the Estonian Presidency of the European Union (EU). The assessment is based on the results of “Ten Green Tests” laid out at the beginning of Estonia’s Presidency. The eighth test is protecting the public from hazardous chemicals, including mercury. The test includes encouraging the European Commission (EC) “to develop a...
January 5, 2018
B&C Publishes Predictions and Outlook for U.S. Federal and International Chemical Regulatory Policy 2018
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and its consulting affiliate The Acta Group (Acta®) published on January 4, 2018, their “Predictions and Outlook for U.S. Federal and International Chemical Regulatory Policy 2018.” In the Forecast, the lawyers, scientists, and chemical regulatory specialists at B&C and Acta offer comprehensive and highly useful observations on the fast-changing and nuanced area of domestic and global chemical legal, scientific, and regulatory issues expected...
On November 30, 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) held a webinar to explain the support documentation available for registrants that cover nanoforms in their Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration dossier. The main focus was on the registration and read-across of nanoforms, but the webinar also covered updates for information requirements for human health and the environment. ECHA has posted the following...
November 20, 2017
EC Posts Comments Received on Draft Regulation to Amend REACH Annexes to Address Nanomaterials
As reported in our October 11, 2017, blog item, on October 9, 2017, the European Commission (EC) began a public consultation on a draft regulation that would amend Annexes I, III, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation to address nanoforms of substances. Comments were due November 6, 2017. The EC has posted the comments online. In all, 36 comments were...
November 17, 2017
ECHA Will Hold Webinar on Updated REACH Guidance for Nanomaterials
On November 30, 2017, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will hold a webinar to explain the support documentation available for registrants that cover nanoforms in their Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration dossier. ECHA states that the main focus will be on the registration and read-across of nanoforms, but the webinar will also cover updates for information requirements for human health and the environment. According to the agenda,...
October 25, 2017
European Trade Union Institute Publishes Policy Brief on EUON
The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) recently published a policy brief entitled “EU Observatory for Nanomaterials: a constructive view on future regulation.” The policy brief provides information about the European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), how it is being developed, its limitations, and “why it is not an ideal option.” According to the policy brief, the absence of risk information regarding nanomaterials in safety data sheets (SDS) “is one of the main...
October 11, 2017
EC Proposes to Amend REACH Annexes to Address Nanomaterials
On October 9, 2017, the European Commission (EC) began a public consultation on a draft regulation that would amend Annexes I, III, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation to address nanoforms of substances. The draft regulation states that: Clarifications to requirements for the registration of substances with nanoforms and related downstream user obligations should be included in Annexes I,...
The European Commission (EC) Joint Research Center (JRC) has published the NANoREG Toolbox for the Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials. As reported in our May 8, 2017, blog item, JRC previously published a Science for Policy report entitled NANoREG framework for the safety assessment of nanomaterials. The report was developed within the NANoREG project, “A common European approach to the regulatory testing of nanomaterials.” The NANoREG framework represents the project’s proposal...
September 27, 2017
OECD Tour de Table Highlights International Developments on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials
On September 27, 2017, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published a corrected version of the Developments in Delegations on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials — Tour De Table, which covers developments on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials that were provided by OECD delegations from March to August 2017. It summarizes relevant information on activities related to manufactured nanomaterials, as well as other activities on nanotechnologies...
On September 15, 2017, the European Commission (EC) began a public consultation on the revision of the 2011 EC Recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial. The EC intended the definition to achieve consistent application of the term nanomaterial across all legislation. The definition includes descriptors that the EC intended to review by December 2014 to ensure that the definition corresponds to the needs. In particular, the review must examine issues where there...