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Australia Announces New Guidance on the Safe Handling and Use of Carbon Nanotubes.
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On March 5, 2012, Safe Work Australia announced the release of an information sheet on the safe handling and use of carbon nanotubes in the workplace and a document entitled Safe Handling and Use of Carbon Nanotubes. The information sheet provides an overview of risk management for carbon nanotubes, while Safe Handling and Use of Carbon Nanotubes describes two approaches to managing the risks: risk management with detailed hazard analysis and exposure assessment, and risk management by using control banding. Either or both of these methods may be used, depending on the circumstances. Safe Work Australia states that the guidance is applicable to other forms of carbon nanofibers, such as carbon nanorods and carbon nanowires. It is also applicable to products containing carbon nanotubes and other forms of carbon nanofibers where these nanomaterials may be released during handling. Safe Work Australia has commissioned a human health hazard assessment and classification of carbon nanotubes, and it expects to publish the findings in mid-2012.
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
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ECHA Forwards Draft Guidance Concerning Nanomaterials to CARACAL. ECHA sent three new draft appendices to Chapters R.8, R.10, and R.14 of the guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment concerning recommendations for nanomaterials to the Competent Authorities for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and Classification, Labeling, and Packaging (CLP) (CARACAL). The draft appendices are based on the results of the REACH Implementation Project on Nanomaterials (RIPoN).
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Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) notes nano concerns for two substances. The first CoRAP, which includes 90 substances that Member States will evaluate under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) substance evaluation process. For each substance, ECHA notes the initial grounds for concern. For two substances, silicon dioxide and silver, the initial grounds for concern are “Substance characterization/Nanoparticles, toxicity of different forms of the substance.” Silicon dioxide is scheduled to be evaluated in 2012, by the Netherlands, and silver is scheduled to be evaluated in 2013, also by the Netherlands. ECHA notes that, when the substances are included in the CoRAP, “they have yet not been evaluated and thus the concern is indicative and not exhaustive or conclusive.”
French Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transportation and Housing (Ministry): Decree regarding annual mandatory reporting of nanoparticulate substances placed on the market.
Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology - Nanotech Commercialization Conference
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The NanoBusiness Commercialization Association, North Carolina Department of Commerce, and Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology will co-host the Nanotech Commercialization Conference on April 4-5, 2012, in Research Triangle, North Carolina.
Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) - Committee on Safety Management for Nanomaterials
European Commission
American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) position statement on nanomaterials
Senate Science and Space Subcommittee Holds Hearing on National Nanotechnology Investment
International Cooperation on Cosmetic Regulation (ICCR) initiative Report of the ICCR Joint Ad Hoc Working Group on Nanotechnology in Cosmetic Products: Criteria and Methods of Detection
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