A UK strategy for the responsible development, use and fate of nanomaterials

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A UK strategy for the responsible development,
use and fate of nanomaterials

• Dr. Chris Snary
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural
  Affairs, UK

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Defras aim in working on nanotechnologies

• To promote the responsible development, use and
  fate of engineered nanoscale materials
• We will do this by working to
• Protect the environment and human health
• Maximise the potential benefits to society

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A shared responsibility

• UK Government led research to understand hazard
  and exposure
• Voluntary Reporting Scheme for industry
• Industry to develop good practice in manufacture,
  use and disposal
• Stakeholder dialogue

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Research areas

• Metrology
• Exposure
• Mammalian hazard and risk
• Environmental hazard and risk
• Social and economic
• In total, 19 broad research objectives were agreed

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NRCG Chair Defra
Partnerships
Communications
Task Force 1 Metrology, Characterisation
and Standardisation, Reference Materials Peter
Cumpson (NPL)
Task Force 2 Exposure - Sources, Exposure,
Pathways, Technologies Brian Fullam (HSE)
Task Force 3 Human Health Hazard and
Risk Assessment Bob Maynard (HPA)
Task Force 4 Environmental Hazard and Risk
Assessment Richard Owen (EA)
Task Force 5 Social and Economic
Dimensions of Nanotechnologies Chris Snary
(Defra)
Research Objectives 17, 18 ,19
Research Objectives 1
Research Objectives 11,12,13 14,15,16
Research Objectives 5,6,7,8,10
Research Objectives 2,3,4,9,
NRCG Task Force Groups
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Social Dimensions

• Nanodialogues
• The Nanotechnology Engagement Group
• Small Talk
• Public confidence and scientific evidence
• Environmentally beneficial nanotechnologies

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Timetable for UK Research

• September 2006 research action plan
• 6 monthly review of evidence
• Over-arching review of approach and all evidence
  in 2008 with a recommendation to UK Ministers
• International perspective to reduce duplication
  of effort

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Voluntary Reporting Scheme

• Helps to build evidence for appropriate controls
• To be launched late Sept 2006
• Voluntary and not replacing legislation
• Data form exemplary only
• Want data from manufacturers, users, importers,
  researchers and waste handlers
• Data will be held in confidence
• To be reviewed in Sept 2008

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Types of data

• Identity of reporter
• Identity and information on nanoscale material
• Physico-chemical properties
• Toxicology and ecotoxicology
• Environmental fate
• Measurement techniques
• Risk management practices

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Good Practice

• UK Government pressing industry to develop
  cross-industry proposals on good practice on
  manufacture, use and disposal
• In the UK, companies will be inspected against
  these guidance documents and are expected to
  comply or exceed
• BSI has expressed an interest in agreeing
  documents

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International context

• UK work is to form a national view
• BUT
• We are working in a collaborative fashion with EU
  as a minimum to act as an informed MS
• We are working with OECD and aim to ensure a
  level playing field internationally

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• Priorities for the Working Party for Manufactured
  Nanomaterials (OECD)
• Definitions, nomenclature and characterisation
• Environmental impacts (hazard identification
  hazard and exposure assessment methods)
• Human health effects (hazard identification
  hazard and exposure assessment methods)
• Regulatory frameworks (information exchange)

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• EU Action Plan
• DGs RD, ENV, ENT and SANCO
• Research, Development and Innovation
• Infrastructure and European Poles of Excellence
• Interdisciplinary Human Resources Europe needs
  Creativity
• Industrial Innovation From Knowledge to the
  Market

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EU Action Plan 5-8 Presidency led 5. Integrating
the Societal Dimension Expectations and
Concerns 6. Public Health, Safety, Environment
and Consumer Protection 7. International
Co-operation 8. A Coherent Approach at European
Level
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Conclusions of the UK Strategy

• Responsible development of nanomaterials
  throughout lifecycle
• Proportionate and evidence based controls
• Shared responsibility