ECHA Executive Director Authors First EUON Nanopinion Post
Thursday, September 19, 2019

The European Union (EU) Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has created a Nanopinion section, where it invites views from different contributors ranging from policy-makers and authorities to industry and civil society on their work and priorities related to nanomaterials on the EU market.  The first item, posted on September 16, 2019, is “EUON:  past, present and future,” written by Bjorn Hansen, Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).  As reported in our July 11, 2019, blog item, in July 2019, ECHA finished a mid-term review to assess where it has succeeded and where it can improve over the remaining years of the mandate that it host and maintain EUON.  Hansen notes that the review highlighted areas where EUON can improve, including the need to:

  • Enhance its communication;

  • Provide more detailed information on nanomaterials for experts; and

  • Provide more simplified information on nanomaterials to the public.

In addition to the incorporation of two databases to the EUON, NanoData (the nano-technology knowledge base) and the eNanoMapper (with data and tools for the risk assessment of nanomaterials), EUON also produces independent studies on different safety aspects with the aim of generating new data on topical issues and complementing already existing research.  According to Hansen, EUON is preparing in final a study on the next-generation nanomaterials and working on three new studies:

  • Critical review of the factors determining dermal absorption of nanomaterials and available tools for the assessment of dermal absorption;

  • Critical review of studies on the reproductive and developmental toxicity of nanomaterials; and

  • Perception of nanomaterials among the general public.

As reported in our July 8, 2019, blog item, EUON recently launched a search tool that combines data submitted by companies in their registration dossiers under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation, data collected about nanomaterials used as ingredients in cosmetic products under the Cosmetics Regulation, and data from the Belgian and French public national nanomaterial inventories.  Hansen predicts that the data available on nanomaterials “will see an exponential increase as of 2020 when new information requirements for REACH enter into force, feeding the EUON with more data for its various audiences.”  Industry will submit this new information via updates of their REACH registration dossiers.  EUON invites its stakeholders and partners to use Nanopinion “to share their views on anything and everything to do with nanomaterials, their safety and their benefits.”  Stakeholders who would like to contribute with a Nanopinion post of their own should contact EUON.

 

NLR Logo

We collaborate with the world's leading lawyers to deliver news tailored for you. Sign Up to receive our free e-Newsbulletins

 

Sign Up for e-NewsBulletins