IOM-led consortium awarded crucial advisory contracts on the regulation of nanomaterials under REACH
A consortium led by the Institute of Occupational Medicine’s SAFENANO Initiative has been awarded two contracts by the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission's Directorate General Joint Research Centre (JRC) concerning the development of specific advice on the assessment of nanomaterials under REACH.
The first project, REACH-NanoInfo (also known as RIP-oN2), addresses the REACH information requirements on intrinsic properties of nanomaterials and has the following specific objectives:
- To develop specific advice on how REACH information requirements on intrinsic properties of nanomaterials can be fulfilled. This should address and advise o. n the appropriateness of the relevant test methods (including dosimetry) for nanomaterials and outline, when relevant, possible specific testing strategies;
- To develop advice on the information that is needed for safety evaluation and risk management of nanomaterials and in particular if information is needed beyond or in addition to the current information requirements listed in REACH Annexes VI-X
The second project, REACH-NanoHazEx (RIP-oN3), addresses undertaking exposure assessments and conducting hazard and risk characterisation for nanomaterials within the REACH context, aiming specifically to:
- Develop advice on how to do exposure assessment for nanomaterials within the REACH context. This shall be the main focus of project and shall cover:
- development of Exposure Scenarios,
- evaluation of operational conditions and risk management/mitigation measures, and;
- exposure estimation;
- Develop ideas for how to conduct hazard and risk characterisation for nanomaterials. The latter will involve threshold/non-threshold considerations.
The consortium is a partnership between IOM/SAFENANO, The Nanotechnology Industries Association, Cefic, and Soluzioni Informatiche, and brings together internationally renowned experts from disciplines including physical sciences, life sciences, occupational hygiene, and risk assessment.
The output from the projects will be developed over a period of 12-16 months in consultation with a range of stakeholders and will be used by the European Commission to support further developments in REACH Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment. Both projects started in January 2010.
Speaking at the project's inception meeting in Ispra, IOM’s Director of Strategic Consulting and project lead Dr Rob Aitken said "we are delighted the European Commission has chosen our consortium to deliver these two important and challenging projects".
To learn more about REACH-NanoInfo and REACH-NanoHazEx, please click here.