| Oct 28, 2013 |
Workshop on 'Grouping and Read-Across for Nanomaterials'
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(Nanowerk News) The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) is hosting a workshop on 'Grouping & Read-Across for Nanomaterials', to be held in Brussels (Belgium) on 26 Nov 2013. It will be followed by the Association's Annual General Meeting (attendance for NIA Members only).
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Two years after the European Commission published its ‘Recommendation on the Definition of Nanomaterial’ (for regulatory and policy purposes), which deems an estimated 50% of all commercially-used materials to be ‘nanomaterials’, the stakeholder groups most responsible for the implementation of characterisation and testing are urging a move away from the currently recommended case-by-case analysis of individual nanomaterials to a more efficient and sustainable approach.
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This symposium is designed for companies that are working with and commercialising nanomaterials.
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These companies are facing an increasing number of regulators’ demands for specific information on nanomaterial safety-testing, characterisation and product approval, without having been given guidance on accepted measurement– and testing-methodologies, or indeed, the particular endpoints that need to be addressed differently than from the bulk material.
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This NIA Symposium will provide a discussion platform for exchange between companies and policy makers, in order to allow for a proactive approach in meeting the regulators’ requirements for grouping- and read-across-approaches to nanomaterials, without hampering innovation and commercialisation.
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In the course of this symposium, NIA will scope for the best possible way of collaboration, and establish its role as a conduit to the flow of communication and exchange of information.
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In order to facilitate this move, several questions are being addressed:
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How can nanomaterials be ‘grouped’ or ‘categorised’ so as to:
reduce the number of measurements and tests that need to be performed;
allow for a ‘safety-by-design’ approach; and
identify the relevant Substance Identity (SID)?
Which parameters play a role in the grouping of nanomaterials (i.e. physchem characteristics, hazard profiles, bioavailability, etc.)?
How can ‘read-across’ from the bulk form of a material be applied to a nanomaterial of the same chemical composition (and vice versa)?
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Speakers invited to discuss the topics include:
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– Andrej Kobe, European Commission, DG ENV
– Wim de Coen, ECHA
– Brad Fisher, Environment Canada
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Follow this link to learn more about the event, and this link to register to attend.
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