Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Frank Le Curieux, Scientific Area Leader for Genotoxicity at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Our author presents the ECHA Nanomaterials Expert Group (NMEG) by writing about its creation and history, its organisation, its main tasks and its future after 2021.

Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Chiara Venturini, Director General at Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), who talks about the lack of precision with the word “nanomaterials” and the need to have a more detailed language when talking about them.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), as part of the activities of the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON), have launched a stakeholder survey on the substances available as nanomaterials in the EU market. Survey is conducted by the NovaMechanics Ltd.

The European Commission is working on a review process of its Recommendation 2011/696/EU on the definition of nanomaterial. As part of this process, the Commission is now launching an online targeted stakeholder consultation.

Read out latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr. Fazel A. Monikh, who talks about the importance of understanding the behaviour of nanomaterials in organisms’ tissues and bodies

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from various authors from BASF and ECETOC, who talk about ways to assess the safety of nanomaterials while minimising animal testing

The EUON is looking for topic suggestions that could be addressed in its upcoming studies. Up to 3 studies are conducted annually to address knowledge gaps on nanomaterials that are of interest to the general public and the research community.

A recent survey carried out in five selected EU countries shows that citizens demand better labelling of everyday products containing nanomaterials and increased awareness of the risks and benefits of products containing nanomaterials.

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has published its preliminary opinion on the safety of nanomaterials in cosmetics. Give your comments by 2 November 2020.

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr Monita Sharma and Dr Andreas Stucki from Peta International Science Consortium Ltd. (PISC) who talk about alternatives to animal testing for nanomaterials.

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from Professor Andrew Nelson, Project Coordinator of the EU funded HISENTS project who talks about an experimental screening platform that mimics a living organism. The nearest thing to a “human-on-a-chip”.

Read our latest Nanopinion guest column from Dr Dorota Napierska, Health Care Without Harm Europe who talks about the benefits and risks of using nanosilver as an antimicrobial agent in clinical settings.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published two guidance documents for the testing of manufactured nanomaterials. They cover dissolution and dispersion stability and aquatic and sediment toxicity. Both are applicable for testing under the REACH Regulation.

The European Food Safety Authority has launched an open consultation on its draft guidance on technical requirements for regulated food and feed product applications to establish the presence of small particles, including nanoparticles.

REACH Annex II has been amended with specific safety data sheet requirements for nanomaterials that apply from 1 January 2021. They align safety data sheets with the revised information requirements for nanoforms that entered into force on 1 January 2020.

A recent study has analysed existing research on whether nanomaterials used in consumer products and at workplaces are absorbed through the skin. The study calls for more comparable and high-quality data through well-organised and structured research programmes that follow OECD test guidelines.

A study commissioned by the EU Observatory for Nanomaterials found a lack of data on female fertility. Studies on reproductive performance were also scarce. The study calls for more coordinated tests and follow up of outcomes when concerns are identified.

ECHA has so far received a low number of registration dossiers for nanomaterials. By 1 January 2020, only 36 substances covering nanoforms have been registered according to the updated REACH requirements – 10 % of what the Agency expected.

The European Commission has requested the SCCS for advice on the safety of nanomaterials used in cosmetics to establish a priority list for risk assessment and to assess if a potential risk can be identified.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is hosting a webinar to present key lessons learnt and best practices for companies registering the nanoforms of their substances under the REACH Regulation. The event takes place on 24 February 2020.

The EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published a call to access its nanobiotechnology laboratory for training and capacity building. The call is open to applicants from enlargement and integration countries and it is open from 16 January to 16 March 2020.

A report by the EU’s Joint Research Centre outlines measurement options and factors to take into account when determining if a material fits the definition of a nanomaterial. It may also be helpful for companies registering their nanoforms under the REACH Regulation.

Read our latest guest column from Carlos-Eduardo Lima Da Cunha from the European Commission who explains how the EU is supporting safe by design approaches to new technologies such as nanomaterials, to deliver safer products to the market.

The European Commission has published an updated catalogue of nanomaterials used in cosmetic products on the EU market. It lists nanomaterials used as UV-filters, colourants and preservatives and indicates the cosmetic product categories where they are used together with foreseeable exposure conditions.

A new study has shown that a significant fraction of nanoparticles tested in the toxicity studies of nanoparticles and to develop nanomedicines, may remain in the plastic syringes used to dose the nanoparticles. This has implications on the reliability and reproducibility of the studies and on efforts to reduce animal testing.

Read the latest guest column from Elke Schneider from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work who explains what the EU is doing to protect its workers and what different tools and guidance are available.

The EUON is looking for topic suggestions that could be addressed in its upcoming studies. Up to 3 studies are conducted annually to address knowledge gaps on nanomaterials that are of interest to the general public and the research community.

Why should we strengthen societal engagement and what does it even mean? That may be the question at the forefront of many readers. In our latest guest post, Lise Bitsch from the EU-funded GoNano project writes about why the research and innovation world of nanotechnologies and other key enabling technologies should care about societal engagement.

An overview of test guidelines relevant for the safety testing of nanomaterials is now available on the EUON. The list focusses on companies needing to meet updated regulatory requirements under the REACH Regulation.

A study commissioned by the EU nanomaterials observatory has found that the current EU regulatory framework for characterising and identifying “next generation” nanomaterials is able to address the majority of them and that no significant changes will be needed in the near future.

GoNano, an EU funded Horizon 2020 project invites you to share your thoughts on the first suggestions for future nanotechnology applications in the health, energy and food sectors as part of its co-creation process.

Two years since its launch, the EUON has carried out a mid-term review to evaluate how it has met its objective of giving reliable information on the markets and safety aspects of nanomaterials in the EU. The findings show that the EUON is adding value to the EU debate on nanomaterials but more frequent and up-to-date information could strengthen it further.

The search uses REACH registrations, the cosmetic ingredients notification portal and the French and Belgian national inventories to make up the most comprehensive search for nanomaterials in the EU. It enables regulators to form a better view of available data and consumers to access chemical safety information.

The reports aim to help select the best methods and parameters for the physico-chemical characterisation of nanomaterials. They include a framework for informing the risk assessment of manufactured nanomaterials and guiding principles for measurements and reporting.

A recently published results pack showcases 14 EU-funded projects that have made progress towards demonstrating how nano-enhanced advanced materials can be safely, sustainably and competitively launched into the industrial mainstream.

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has opened a call to access the JRC Nanobiotechnology Laboratory for external researchers from the public and private sectors. The call is open until 7 June 2019.

The NanoSafety Cluster coordinates the funding of research projects at the European level that address the safety aspects of nanomaterials. Read an interview about the benefits and risks of new innovations with Eva Valsami-Jones, the lead coordinator of the cluster.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a report clarifying key concepts and terms used in the European Commission's nanomaterial definition. The report gives recommendations for a harmonised implementation of the definition.

A new study performed by scientists at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre demonstrates the applicability of the European Chemicals Agency’s recommendations for the grouping and read-across of nanomaterials.

Scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) have published a series of papers assessing the availability and applicability of computational models in the safety assessment of nanomaterials with a view to promoting their further development and use in regulatory decision-making.

A specific revision of the REACH information requirements for nanomaterials has now been adopted by the European Commission. The amendments clarify what information companies placing substances in nanoform on the market need to provide in their registration dossiers. The new rules apply as of 1 January 2020.

Scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) have produced an inventory of publicly available tools for the safety assessment of nanomaterials. The NANoREG Toolbox covers an unprecedented range of over 500 tools, developed in Europe and internationally.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has published an info sheet with an overview of how to deal with manufactured nanomaterials in the workplace.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a case study by the European Union Joint Research Centre (JRC) on grouping and read-across for the genotoxicity of nano titanium dioxide. Although the case study successfully evaluated the confidence in read-across argumentation for nanomaterials, some nanospecific issues were identified for further clarification.

A new study, commissioned by the EU Observatory for Nanomaterials, found gaps in the current knowledge on the hazard and risk assessment of nano-sized pigments. The study identified 81 nano-sized pigments currently used in the EU market.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has mapped currently used terminology in the field of nanomedicines. The outcome of their analysis supports the development of harmonised use of terminology in the future.

A study commissioned by the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has reviewed data sources, methods and parameters for carrying out market studies on nanomaterials in the EU.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published guidance on how to assess the safety of applying nanoscience and nanotechnology in food applications. The guidance gives practical suggestions on the types of testing that are needed and the methods that can be applied.

EU researchers are testing a nano-based packaging material that releases antimicrobial oils to slow food spoilage and prevent foodborne illnesses.

The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) features two searchable databases: NanoData, a knowledge base on nano science and technology and the eNanoMapper that helps you find safety information about nanomaterials.