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Home > Nanotechnology Columns > Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

June 17th, 2013 OECD Publishes Report on Nanotechnology for Green Innovation Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On June 13, 2013, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Working Party on Nanotechnology (WPN) published the final report Nanotechnology for Green Innovation. Read the Whole Article

June 14th, 2013 European Parliament Calls for Adequate Consumer Protection for Goods Produced Using Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On June 11, 2013, the European Parliament adopted a "new agenda for European consumer policy." Read the Whole Article

June 10th, 2013 EC Begins Consultation on Occupational Safety and Health Policy Framework Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 31, 2013, the European Commission (EC) began a public consultation on the new European Union (EU) occupational safety and health policy framework. Read the Whole Article

June 5th, 2013 ECHA Begins Public Consultation on Multi-Annual Work Program Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) began a public consultation on the draft multi-annual work program for 2014-2018. Read the Whole Article

May 31st, 2013 NNI Publishes Report on RSL Initiatives in Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 17, 2013, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) published a report on regional, state, and local (RSL) initiatives in nanotechnology. Read the Whole Article

May 29th, 2013 EC Posts Assessment of Consequences of Changing the REACH Requirements for Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. In May 2013, the European Commission (EC) posted a January 2013 report entitled Examination and assessment of consequences for industry, consumers, human health and the environment of possible options for changing the REACH requirements for nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

May 22nd, 2013 EPA Promulgates SNUR For Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 9, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a significant new use rule (SNUR) for premanufacture notice (PMN) substance P-12-44, which is identified as "functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes." Read the Whole Article

May 8th, 2013 IRSST and NanoQuébec Will Fund Research on Worker Exposure to Engineered Nanoparticles Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 15, 2013, the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) and NanoQuébec announced they will jointly fund three new research projects on worker exposure to engineered nanoparticles. Read the Whole Article

May 2nd, 2013 Conference Participants Discuss Need for EU Register of Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 11-12, 2013, the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment hosted an invitation-only conference entitled "Building Blocks for Completing EU Regulation of Nanomaterials." Read the Whole Article

April 30th, 2013 EPA Applies Life-Cycle Assessment to Nanoscale Technology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 30, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) announced the availability of the final report entitled Application of Life-Cycle Assessment to Nanoscale Technology: Lithium-ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles. Read the Whole Article

April 25th, 2013 NIOSH CIB on Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers Includes Lower REL Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 24, 2013, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released Current Intelligence Bulletin 65: Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers, which includes a proposed recommended exposure limit (REL) that is significantly lower than that in the 2010 draft. Read the Whole Article

April 23rd, 2013 NRC Identifies Five High Priorities to Improve NNI Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The National Research Council (NRC) announced on April 23, 2013, that its second triennial review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) identified five "cross-cutting, high-priority areas for focus and improvement for NNI going forward". Read the Whole Article

April 18th, 2013 Swedish Draft Proposal Would Amend REACH to Ensure Safe Handling of Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI) published an April draft proposal to amend the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation to ensure the safe handling of nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

April 16th, 2013 TSCA Reform Legislation Would Regulate Special Substance Characteristic Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 10, 2013, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) reintroduced the Safe Chemicals Act (S. 696), which would reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and is identical to legislation (S. 847) reported favorably out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on a party-line vote in the 112th Congress. Read the Whole Article

April 12th, 2013 Lynn Bergeson Presents at the Fifth Annual Nanotech Commercialization Conference Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 10, 2013, Lynn Bergeson participated in a panel discussion on NANO EHS at the Fifth Annual Nanotech Commercialization Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Read the Whole Article

March 29th, 2013 Danish EPA Publishes Proposal for Technical Information Requirements for Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published on March 20, 2013, a proposal for technical information requirements for nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

March 26th, 2013 UK Posts Guidance on Controlling Occupational Exposure to Manufactured Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The United Kingdom's (UK) Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has posted a guidance document describing how to control occupational exposure to manufactured nanomaterials in the workplace. Read the Whole Article

March 19th, 2013 Canada Publishes SNAc for Cobalt Iron Manganese Oxide, Carboxylic Acid-Modified Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The March 16, 2013, Canada Gazette includes a significant new activity (SNAc) notice for cobalt iron manganese oxide, carboxylic acid-modified, which the notice states is not included on the Domestic Substances List (DSL). Read the Whole Article

March 12th, 2013 NIOSH Announces New Findings on Lung Tumor Formation in Laboratory Mice Exposed to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On March 11, 2013, at the annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported preliminary findings from a new laboratory study in which mice were exposed by inhalation to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Read the Whole Article

March 8th, 2013 Switzerland Studies Need for Nano-Specific Regulation Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On February 22, 2013, Empa announced the availability of a study prepared on behalf of Switzerland's Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) entitled Human and Ecotoxicity of Synthetic Nanomaterials: Initial Insights for Major Accident Prevention. Read the Whole Article

March 5th, 2013 EU-OSHA Posts Results of Project on Nano in Furniture Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On March 4, 2013, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) announced the results of a joint project by the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), the European Furniture Manufacturers Federation (UEA), and the European Furniture Industries Federation (EFIC) on the use of nanomaterials in the European furniture sector. Read the Whole Article

March 4th, 2013 ECHA Announces IUCLID User Manual Updated for Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on February 28, 2013, that the International Uniform Chemical Information Database (IUCLID) user manual for nanomaterials has been updated. Read the Whole Article

February 27th, 2013 Honda Reintroduces NANO Act Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On January 23, 2013, Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) reintroduced the Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities (NANO) Act (H.R.394). Read the Whole Article

February 22nd, 2013 Lynn L. Bergeson Will Speak at Conference on Scientific Advances Towards Reducing Complexity in Decision Making Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Lynn L. Bergeson will speak at a May 8, 2013, conference on recent advances in environmental health and safety (EHS) of engineered nanomaterials. The University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN) is holding the conference on "Scientific Advances Towards Reducing Complexity in Decision Making." Read the Whole Article

February 4th, 2013 OSHA Publishes Fact Sheet on Working Safely with Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently published a fact sheet entitled Working Safely with Nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

January 25th, 2013 Court Hears Oral Arguments in Case Challenging Conditional Registration of Nanosilver Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Oral arguments were held on January 16, 2013, in the Natural Resources Defense Council's (NRDC) case challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) conditional registration of HeiQ AGS-20, a nanosilver product. Read the Whole Article

January 17th, 2013 Norway Requires Information on Norwegian Product Register Chemicals in Nanoform Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On January 9, 2013, the Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif) posted a notice concerning the annual update of information and mandatory reporting of quantities for chemicals for 2012 to the Norwegian Product Register. Read the Whole Article

January 11th, 2013 France Reminds Companies of Nanomaterials Reporting Requirement Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development posted a January 8, 2013, memorandum (in French) concerning the annual mandatory reporting of nanomaterials, which took effect January 1, 2013. Read the Whole Article

January 11th, 2013 Canada Begins Public Consultation on Revised Draft Guidance Document Sunscreen Monograph Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On November 21, 2012, Health Canada began a public consultation on a Draft: Guidance Document -- Sunscreen Monograph, which is intended to replace the existing 2006 Sunburn Protectants Monograph. Read the Whole Article

January 7th, 2013 EPA Regulatory Agenda Includes Notices Concerning Nanoscale Materials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to announce in the January 8, 2013, Federal Register the availability of its 2012 Regulatory Agenda. Read the Whole Article

December 27th, 2012 Danish Consumer Council and Danish Ecological Council Launch Nano Database Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Danish Consumer Council and the Danish Ecological Council, in cooperation with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Environment, have developed a database intended to help consumers identify more than 1,200 products that may contain nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

December 21st, 2012 NIOSH to Publish Information and Comment Request for Silver Nanoparticles Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published in the December 19, 2012, Federal Register a request for information and comment on silver nanoparticles. Read the Whole Article

December 12th, 2012 EPA and CPSC Collaborating on Nanomaterial Research Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On December 11, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a research collaboration intended to assess potential impacts of nanomaterials on people's health and the environment. Read the Whole Article

December 1st, 2012 Regulatory Cooperation Council Holds Stakeholder Webinar on Nanotechnology Initiative Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On November 28, 2012, the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) held a webinar to discuss its RCC Nanotechnology Work Plan. Read the Whole Article

November 30th, 2012 EFSA Intends to Prepare Inventory of Food Additives in the Area of Nanotechnologies Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published in the October 10, 2012, Official Journal of the European Union a call for tender to prepare a background document on the current knowledge in the field of nanotechnology and prepare an inventory of food additives/food contact materials/feed additives applications of nanotechnologies currently used and/or reasonably foreseen to be used. Read the Whole Article

November 14th, 2012 NGOs Call for "Nano Patch" for REACH, and EC Responds Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), ClientEarth, and Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND) released on November 13, 2012, a proposal for European Union (EU) legislation to address the risks of nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

November 8th, 2012 NIOSH Publishes Progress Report from Nanotechnology Research Center Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On November 7, 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) posted a document entitled Filling the Knowledge Gaps for Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace: A Progress Report from the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center, 2004-2011. Read the Whole Article

October 24th, 2012 Safe Work Australia Recommends Classification of Carbon Nanotubes as Hazardous Chemicals Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On October 22, 2012, Safe Work Australia announced the availability of a report entitled Human Health Hazard Assessment and Classification of Carbon Nanotubes, as well as an information sheet on the report. Read the Whole Article

October 17th, 2012 ECHA Will Hold Webinar on REACH Registration Dossiers for Nanomaterials and Creates Nanomaterials Working Group Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On October 30, 2012, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will hold a webinar entitled "How to ensure the safe use of nanomaterials under REACH Part I: Characterisation of nanoforms of substances in registration dossiers." Read the Whole Article

October 11th, 2012 Potassium Titanium Oxide SNUR Bans Manufacture of Particle Size Less Than 100 nm Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On October 5, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final significant new use rule (SNUR) for potassium titanium oxide, which was previously the subject of a consent order under Section 5(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Read the Whole Article

October 3rd, 2012 EC Adopts Communication on Second Regulatory Review on Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On October 3, 2012, the European Commission (EC) announced its adoption of a Communication on the Second Regulatory Review on Nanomaterials, which assesses the adequacy and implementation of European Union (EU) legislation for nanomaterials, indicates follow-up actions, and responds to issues raised by the European Parliament (EP), EU Council, and the European Economic and Social Committee. Read the Whole Article

September 25th, 2012 EC's SCCS Scientific Opinion on Nano-Form Zinc Oxide Available for Comment Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Commission's (EC) Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has posted an opinion on zinc oxide, nano-form. Read the Whole Article

September 20th, 2012 CDC Seeks Comment on Proposed NIOSH Exposure Assessment and Epidemiological Study of U.S. Workers Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a September 20, 2012, Federal Register notice seeking comment on a proposed National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) exposure assessment and epidemiological study of U.S. workers exposed to carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF). Read the Whole Article

September 19th, 2012 Denmark Intends to Create Database of Products Containing Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Under a draft amendment to the Danish Chemicals Act, the Minister of the Environment would have the authority to write a detailed order, establishing the rules for a national database of mixtures and articles containing or releasing nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

September 13th, 2012 NNCO Will Hold Webinar on Nano.gov Website Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. In a September 13, 2012, Federal Register notice, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced that the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) will hold a webinar on September 20, 2012, to provide an open forum to answer questions and hear suggestions related to the National Nanotechnology Initiative's (NNI) public website, which was redesigned in April 2011. Read the Whole Article

September 7th, 2012 NRC Report on Science for Environmental Protection Examines Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On September 5, 2012, the National Research Council (NRC) released a pre-publication version of a report entitled Science for Environmental Protection: The Road Ahead. Read the Whole Article

September 4th, 2012 SCCS Calls for Experts on the Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On August 31, 2012, the European Commission's (EC) Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued a call for experts on the safety assessment of nanomaterials in cosmetic products. Read the Whole Article

August 31st, 2012 ISO Preparing Labeling Guidance for Manufactured Nano-Objects and Products Containing Manufactured Nano-Objects Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 229 on nanotechnologies is preparing guidance on the format and content of voluntary labeling for manufactured nano-objects (MNO) and products, preparations, and mixtures containing MNOs. Read the Whole Article

August 30th, 2012 Lynn L. Bergeson Will Chair Session at Newly-Organized Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization Conference Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Lynn L. Bergeson will chair a session of the first Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) conference, which will be held November 4-6, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. Read the Whole Article

August 24th, 2012 PNAS Posts Study Concerning Soybean Susceptibility to Manufactured Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) posted on its website on August 20, 2012, an article entitled "Soybean susceptibility to manufactured nanomaterials with evidence for food quality and soil fertility interruption." Read the Whole Article

August 22nd, 2012 France Publishes Notice Concerning Mandatory Nanomaterial Reporting Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development published an order in the August 10, 2012, Journal Officiel de la République Française concerning the content and submission requirements for the annual declarations of information relating to nanoparticle substances, as substances or as part of a mixture. Read the Whole Article

August 10th, 2012 SCENIHR Issues Call for Information and Experts on Health Effects of Nanomaterials Used in Medical Devices Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On August 8, 2012, the European Commission (EC) Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) posted a request it received from the EC for a scientific opinion on the safety of medical devices containing nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

August 3rd, 2012 EPA Publishes Final Nanomaterial Case Study For Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On August 1, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted a final report entitled Nanomaterial Case Study: Nanoscale Silver in Disinfectant Spray, which EPA states "is intended to be used as part of a process to identify what is known and, more importantly, what is not yet known that could be of value in assessing the broad implications of certain nanomaterials." Read the Whole Article

July 27th, 2012 Amended Safe Chemicals Act Still Includes Special Substance Characteristics Provision Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On July 25, 2012, the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works approved Senator Frank Lautenberg's (D-NJ) amended Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847) in a 10-8 partisan vote. While the bill does not explicitly mention nano, potentially relevant provisions remain in the amended text. Read the Whole Article

July 18th, 2012 FDA Bill Signed by President Includes Nanotechnology Provision Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On July 9, 2012, President Barack Obama signed the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (P.L. 112-144). Read the Whole Article

July 17th, 2012 EPA Extends Due Date for Comments on Nanosilver Registration Review Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. According to a July 10, 2012, memorandum added to the registration review docket for nanosilver, the Federal Register notice announcing the opening of the docket erroneously listed the comment period end date as August 19, 2012. Read the Whole Article

July 12th, 2012 NIOSH eNews Includes Nanotechnology Update Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The July 3, 2012, edition of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) eNews includes a nanotechnology update, which states that the critical question to address is whether nanomaterials pose health or safety risks to workers employed in their manufacture and industrial use. Read the Whole Article

July 10th, 2012 The Netherlands Publishes Report Examining the EC's Recommended Definition of Nanomaterial Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) published on June 29, 2012, a report entitled Interpretation and implications of the European Commission Recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial. Read the Whole Article

July 9th, 2012 EPA Opens Registration Review Docket for Nanosilver Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On July 6, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the establishment of a registration review docket for nanosilver. Read the Whole Article

July 5th, 2012 EC Scientific Committee Releases Guidance on Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials in Cosmetics Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On July 4, 2012, the European Commission (EC) Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) posted its Guidance on the safety assessment of nanomaterials in cosmetics. Read the Whole Article

July 2nd, 2012 EPA Releases Draft Report on Nanomaterial Case Study Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on July 2, 2012, the availability of an external review draft document entitled Nanomaterial Case Study: A Comparison of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube and Decabromodiphenyl Ether Flame-Retardant Coatings Applied to Upholstery Textiles (EPA/600/R-12/043A). Read the Whole Article

June 29th, 2012 Workshop Registration Now Open -- Challenges and Opportunities for Businesses Engaged in Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the September 25, 2012, workshop: "Challenges and Opportunities for Businesses Engaged in Nanotechnology." Read the Whole Article

June 14th, 2012 Health Council of the Netherlands Proposes Registry for Worker Exposure to Engineered Nanoparticles Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Health Council of the Netherlands announced on May 22, 2012, the availability of a draft report proposing the implementation of an exposure registry and a system of health monitoring when working with engineered nanoparticles. Read the Whole Article

June 13th, 2012 ECHA Will Create Working Group on Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recently held a two-day workshop concerning its first experiences with nanomaterials under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) program, with an emphasis on the evaluation process. Read the Whole Article

June 8th, 2012 ECHA Updates Additional Guidance for Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 25, 2012, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published three new appendices, updating Chapters R.8, R.10, and R.14 of the Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment. Read the Whole Article

June 7th, 2012 ISO Publishes Technical Report on Physical Characterization of Engineered Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a Technical Report (TR) providing guidance on the physicochemical characterization of manufactured nano-objects prior to toxicological assessment. Read the Whole Article

May 31st, 2012 NIOSH Releases Guidance on General Safe Practices for Working with Engineered Nanomaterials in Research Laboratories Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has posted a document entitled General Safe Practices for Working with Engineered Nanomaterials in Research Laboratories, which contains recommendations on engineering controls and safe practices for handling engineered nanomaterials in laboratories and some pilot scale operations. Read the Whole Article

May 23rd, 2012 International Symposium Slides and Videos of the Plenary Presentations Are Now Available Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On March 27-28, 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in collaboration with the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), and hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), held an International Symposium on Assessing the Economic Impact of Nanotechnology. Read the Whole Article

May 18th, 2012 Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health Considers Dispersible Engineered Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) met on May 3, 2012, during which it discussed the use of occupational exposure levels (OEL) by the federal government. Read the Whole Article

May 17th, 2012 EU Biocides Regulation Addresses Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 10, 2012, the Council of the European Union (EU) announced the adoption of a regulation concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products, which include insecticides, disinfectants, and repellents, but not medicines or agricultural pesticides. Read the Whole Article

May 15th, 2012 NNI Agencies Announce New Nanotechnology Signature Initiative Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 14, 2012, the agencies participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) announced the fourth Nanotechnology Signature Initiative, "Nanotechnology Knowledge Infrastructure: Enabling National Leadership in Sustainable Design" (NKI). Read the Whole Article

May 11th, 2012 SAICM Will Publish Comments on Adding Nanotechnology Activities to Global Plan of Action Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Secretariat is expected to publish this month comments on Switzerland's proposal that activities relating to nanotechnology be added to the SAICM Global Plan of Action. Read the Whole Article

May 8th, 2012 CRS Publishes Nanotechnology Policy Primer Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) published an April 13, 2012, document entitled Nanotechnology: A Policy Primer that provides an overview of federal research and development (R&D) in nanotechnology, U.S. competitiveness, environmental, health, and safety (EHS) concerns, nanomanufacturing, and public understanding of and attitudes toward nanotechnology. Read the Whole Article

May 5th, 2012 PCAST Releases Fourth Assessment of the NNI Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 27, 2012, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released the Report to the President and Congress on the Fourth Assessment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which is a Congressionally mandated biennial review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Read the Whole Article

May 4th, 2012 ECHA Announces Updated Guidance for Registering Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 30, 2012, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the availability of three appendices, updating Chapters R.7a, R.7b, and R.7c of the Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment (IR & CSA). Read the Whole Article

April 26th, 2012 FDA Issues Two New Draft Guidance Documents on Nanotechnology in Food Substances and Cosmetics Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 25, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the issuance of two new draft guidance documents on the use of nanotechnology in food and cosmetic products -- "Guidance for Industry: Assessing the Effects of Significant Manufacturing Process Changes, Including Emerging Technologies, on the Safety and Regulatory Status of Food Ingredients and Food Contact Substances, including Food Ingredients that are Color Additives," and "Guidance for Industry: Safety of Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products. Read the Whole Article

April 19th, 2012 OECD Publishes New Document in Series on Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently published a new document in its series on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials, entitled Important Issues on Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

April 12th, 2012 EC Scientific Committee Requests Information on Nanosilver Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 10, 2012, the European Commission (EC) Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) invited interested parties to submit any relevant information that could assist it with its assessment of the safety, health, and environmental effects of nanosilver. Read the Whole Article

April 7th, 2012 Background Papers Available from the International Symposium on Assessing the Economic Impact of Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On March 27-28, 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in collaboration with the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), and hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) held an International Symposium on Assessing the Economic Impact of Nanotechnology. Read the Whole Article

March 31st, 2012 B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. Announces That The California Nanotechnology Industry Network Will Sponsor a Workshop on Challenges and Opportunities for Businesses Engaged in Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCMM) is pleased to announce that the UCLA Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology will be hosting a workshop that will be sponsored by The California Nanotechnology Industry Network (CalNIN) on Challenges and Opportunities for Businesses Engaged in Nanotechnology on September 25, 2012. Read the Whole Article

March 30th, 2012 Dr. Robert Pohanka Appointed as Director of the NNCO Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On March 20, 2012, the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) announced the appointment of Dr. Robert Pohanka as the Director of the NNCO. Read the Whole Article

March 29th, 2012 EC Requests Scientific Opinion on Health Effects of Nanomaterials Used in Medical Devices Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On March 27, 2012, the European Commission (EC) posted a request to the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) for a scientific opinion on the health effects of nanomaterials used in medical devices. Read the Whole Article

March 13th, 2012 Australia Announces New Guidance on the Safe Handling and Use of Carbon Nanotubes Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. 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. Read the Whole Article

March 8th, 2012 Wisconsin Bill Would Create Nanotechnology Information Hub and Nanotechnology Council Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. S.B. 533, which was prepared for the Joint Legislative Council's Special Committee on Nanotechnology, was introduced in the Wisconsin Senate on February 29, 2012, by the Joint Legislative Council. Read the Whole Article

March 2nd, 2012 CoRAP Notes Nano Concerns for Two Substances Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On February 29, 2012, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the first Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP), which includes 90 substances that Member States will evaluate under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) substance evaluation process. Read the Whole Article

February 26th, 2012 Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies Identifies Top Technology Trends Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. During the Summit on the Global Agenda 2011, the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies asked members to identify the technology trends that would have the greatest global impact. Read the Whole Article

February 25th, 2012 ECHA Announces Plans to Update Guidance for Registration of Nanoform Substances Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On February 22, 2012, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued a press release announcing that it is currently preparing an update of its Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment based on the European Commission's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Implementation Project on Nanomaterials (RIP-oN). Read the Whole Article

February 20th, 2012 EPA Administrator Jackson Toured UCLA Lab Receiving Funding for Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On February 17, 2012, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson toured the Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN) at the University of California, Los Angeles. Read the Whole Article

February 19th, 2012 EPA Regulatory Agenda Includes Notices Concerning Nanoscale Materials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a February 13, 2012, Federal Register notice the availability of its Fall 2011 Regulatory Agenda. Read the Whole Article

February 10th, 2012 CIEL Claims REACH Insufficient to Regulate Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) published a report on February 6, 2012, entitled Just Out of REACH: How REACH Is Failing to Regulate Nanomaterials and How It Can Be Fixed. Read the Whole Article

February 3rd, 2012 NanoRelease Project in Phase 2 Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The NanoRelease Project is intended to support the development of methods to understand the release of nanomaterials used in products. Read the Whole Article

January 27th, 2012 NRDC Files Suit to Block EPA's Conditional Registration of Nanosilver Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On January 26, 2012, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (California) against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning its conditional registration of a pesticide product containing nanosilver as a new active ingredient for use as a preservative for textiles. Read the Whole Article

January 12th, 2012 Nanotech Commercialization Conference Will Be Held in North Carolina in April Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The NanoBusiness Commercialization Association (NanoBCA), North Carolina Department of Commerce, and Center of Innovation for Nanobiotechnology (COIN) will co-host the Nanotech Commercialization Conference on April 4-5, 2012, in Research Triangle, North Carolina. Read the Whole Article

December 29th, 2011 EPA Publishes Proposed SNURs for CNTs and Fullerenes Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published on December 28, 2011, proposed significant new use rules (SNUR) for 17 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN). 76 Fed. Reg. 81447. Of particular interest, seven of the PMN substances' reported chemical names include the term "carbon nanotube" (CNT) or "CNT" and seven of the PMN substances include the term "fullerene." Read the Whole Article

December 23rd, 2011 Coalition Sues FDA Over Alleged Risks from Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On December 21, 2011, a coalition of nonprofit consumer safety and environmental groups sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Read the Whole Article

December 17th, 2011 EP Passes Resolution Calling for Legislation to Protect Workers from Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Parliament (EP) passed a resolution on December 15, 2011, stating that nanomaterials must be covered by current European Union (EU) health and safety rules, based on a mid-term review of the EU's 2007-2012 health and safety at work strategy. Read the Whole Article

December 15th, 2011 EC Requests SCENIHR for Scientific Opinion on Nanosilver Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Commission (EC) requested on December 9, 2011, that the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) prepare a scientific opinion on the safety, health, and environmental effects and role in antimicrobial resistance of nanosilver. Read the Whole Article

December 12th, 2011 NIOSH Science Blog Posts Entry Regarding Respiratory Protection for Workers Handling Engineered Nanoparticles Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On December 7, 2011, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted an item on its Science Blog entitled "Respiratory Protection for Workers Handling Engineered Nanoparticles." Read the Whole Article

December 2nd, 2011 EPA Conditionally Registers Pesticide Product Containing Nanosilver as a New Active Ingredient Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on December 1, 2011, that it is conditionally registering a pesticide product containing nanosilver as a new active ingredient. HeiQ AGS-20 is a silver-based antimicrobial pesticide product approved for use as a preservative for textiles. The final registration is not yet in the docket. The final registration is similar to the draft proposed registration issued last year, but additional data requirements have been imposed. As members of the nano community know well, that EPA has issued the registration in final is very good news and demonstrates that EPA is prepared to make regulatory decisions involving nanotechnology, even where, as here, they are likely to inspire controversy. Read the Whole Article

December 1st, 2011 ObservatoryNANO Posts Report on Nanotechnology EHS Landscape Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. ObservatoryNANO posted on November 24, 2011, a report on the nanotechnology environment, health, and safety (EHS) landscape. Read the Whole Article

November 23rd, 2011 Nanomaterials May Not Fit Definition of "Chemical" in "Informal Draft" Safer Consumer Products Regulations Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On November 14-15, 2011, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC) Green Ribbon Science Panel (GRSP) met to review DTSC's "informal draft" Safer Consumer Products Regulations (SCPR) released on October 31, 2011. During the meeting, DTSC provided an explanation for how the regulations were developed and then set forth questions for discussion on three topics: (1) the Chemicals of Concern (COC) List; (2) the prioritization of products; and (3) the quality assurance of alternative assessments (AA). Read the Whole Article

November 18th, 2011 EPA Posts Guidance to Facilitate Decisions for Sustainable Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted a September 2011 guidance document entitled Guidance to Facilitate Decisions for Sustainable Nanotechnology, which was prepared by the National Risk Management Research Laboratory of the Office of Research and Development. EPA states that it developed the guidance to assist in assessing the sustainability of nanoproducts, and it is intended "to lay the groundwork for developing a decision-support framework through continual updates as research in this area progresses." The foundation of EPA's approach, according to the guidance, is to consider existing standards and methods for environmental, economic, and social assessments using a life cycle perspective and offer guidance by relaying first-hand knowledge of applying assessment tools to nanotechnologies, whenever possible. The guidance includes overviews of various assessment methodologies to help stakeholders make informed choices when selecting tools appropriate for their goals. Read the Whole Article

November 13th, 2011 NIA Will Hold Workshop on the EU Definition of Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) will hold a workshop on November 30, 2011, entitled "Defining Nano!? Compliance Requirements & Market Impact of the EU Definition of ‘Nanomaterials.'" Read the Whole Article

November 11th, 2011 ICON Announces Availability of Presentation Slides from Training Course Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On November 8, 2011, the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON) announced the availability of the presentation slides from the modules for the training course entitled "Introduction to Nanomaterials and Occupational Health." Read the Whole Article

November 4th, 2011 ECHA Begins Consultation on Testing Proposal for Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On November 3, 2011, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) began a consultation on a testing proposal for multi-wall carbon nanotubes, synthetic graphite in tubular shape. Under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) program, manufacturers and importers must obtain information on toxic effects of substances. REACH requires that new testing of a substance involving vertebrate animals be carried out only as a last resort, however. Read the Whole Article

October 28th, 2011 NCI Announces Public Private Industry Partnership Concerning Nanotechnology-Based Cancer Solutions Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. In an October 28, 2011, Federal Register notice, the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer announced the initiation of "Translation of Nanotechnology in Cancer" (TONIC), a public private industry partnership intended to promote translational research and development opportunities of nanotechnology-based cancer solutions. Read the Whole Article

October 19th, 2011 EC Adopts Recommendation on Definition of Nanomaterial Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Commission (EC) adopted on October 18, 2011, a Recommendation on the definition of a nanomaterial. Read the Whole Article

October 14th, 2011 Health Canada Announces Policy Statement Concerning Working Definition for Nanomaterial Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On October 11, 2011, Health Canada announced the availability of its Policy Statement on Health Canada's Working Definition for Nanomaterial. Read the Whole Article

October 11th, 2011 Nanotechnology Regulatory Science Act of 2011 Introduced in Senate Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On October 6, 2011, Senator Mark L. Pryor (D-AR) introduced the Nanotechnology Regulatory Science Act of 2011 (S. 1662). The legislation is intended to address potential health and safety risks from products that contain nanotechnology materials. The bill would establish a program within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assess the health and safety implications of using nanotechnology in everyday products and develop best practices for companies using nanotechnology. The legislation would authorize $48 million over three years, beginning in fiscal year 2013. Read the Whole Article

October 6th, 2011 EC Requests Guidance on Safety Assessment of Nanomaterials in Cosmetics Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Commission (EC) has asked the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) to prepare a guidance document on the safety assessment of nanomaterials in cosmetics. Read the Whole Article

September 25th, 2011 OEHHA Posts Comments on Revised Proposed Regulation for Hazard Traits and Environmental and Toxicological Endpoints Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has posted comments received on its July 29, 2011, revised proposed regulation concerning the specification of hazard traits, environmental and toxicological endpoints, and other relevant data that are to be included in California's Toxics Information Clearinghouse. Read the Whole Article

September 23rd, 2011 SNWG Releases Statement Concerning Nanosilver Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG) recently prepared a statement concerning nanosilver and its long history of safe and regulated use. Read the Whole Article

September 16th, 2011 A New Website for Nanotechnology Initiatives in California Is Available Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM), an affiliate of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., announced on September 15, 2011, the availability of a new website designed to be a platform for sharing information on nanotechnology policy, legislative, and regulatory initiatives in California. The website provides regular updates on areas and initiatives that could potentially impact the development or use of nanomaterials in California. It also includes information on broader nano-initiatives, recognizing that such initiatives can and will influence nanomaterials policy developments and decisions in California and elsewhere. Read the Whole Article

September 7th, 2011 German Advisory Council Releases Report Concerning Precautionary Strategies for Managing Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) released on September 1, 2011, a report entitled Precautionary Strategies for Managing Nanomaterials, which makes recommendations for a "responsible and precautionary development" of nanotechnology. Read the Whole Article

September 2nd, 2011 To Define or Not to Define: The War of Words Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The August 25, 2011, issue of Nature includes a letter from Dr. Hermann Stamm, European Commission (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP). In response to Dr. Andrew Maynard's article entitled "Don't define nanomaterials," in the July 7, 2011, issue of Nature, Stamm argues that a definition of engineered nanomaterials for regulatory purposes is "urgently needed." Read the Whole Article

August 25th, 2011 FDA Regulatory Science Plan Addresses Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released on August 17, 2011, a document entitled Advancing Regulatory Science at FDA: A Strategic Plan. FDA states that its core responsibility is to protect consumers by applying the best possible science to its regulatory activities. FDA notes that rapid advances in innovative science have provided new technologies to discover, manufacture, and assess novel medical products, and to improve food safety and quality. FDA reportedly developed the Strategic Plan to keep pace with and use these new scientific advances. Read the Whole Article

August 19th, 2011 Presentations Available from US-EU Workshop: Bridging NanoEHS Research Efforts Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) posted recently the presentations from the March 10-11, 2011, workshop entitled "US-EU: Bridging NanoEHS Research Efforts." The workshop, which was convened in the Washington, D.C area, was intended to continue the robust dialogue between the U.S. and European Union (EU) on issues of shared concern pertinent to nanotechnology research initiatives. The workshop covered the following areas: significant discussion about environmental health and safety (EHS) questions for nanotechnology-enabled products; hands-on participation in joint programs of work that will better leverage resources; and development of communities of practice areas, including identification of key points of contact, interest groups, themes between key U.S. and EU researchers, and key U.S. and EU funding sources for near-term and future collaborations. Read the Whole Article

August 18th, 2011 NanoBusiness Commercialization Association to Meet in Boston Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On September 25-27, 2011, the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association (NanoBCA) will commence its tenth annual conference at the Nanomanufacturing Summit in Boston, Massachusetts. The Summit will showcase emerging areas of nanomanufacturing and commercialization of nanotechnology-enabled products by leaders in the field of nanomanufacturing. This year's event is being co-organized by the National Nanomanufacturing Network (NNN) and NanoBCA (formerly the NanoBusiness Alliance), and provides an opportunity to network with the broader nanomanufacturing community to foster the critical collaboration and information exchange needed to realize both the societal and economic benefits offered by integrative nanomanufacturing techniques. Read the Whole Article

August 4th, 2011 IATP Report Critical of Development of Nanotechnology Products with Inadequate Regulatory Oversight Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) issued a June 29, 2011, report entitled Racing Ahead: U.S. Agri-Nanotechnology in the Absence of Regulation, which claims that at least 1,300 products with engineered nanotechnology materials (ENM) have been commercialized, "despite myriad uncertainties about the public health and environmental effects of ENMs." According to the report, several steps are needed for an operative and mandatory regulatory structure for nanotechnology products and processes, including an agreed legal definition of what constitutes an ENM and nanotech product data. The report describes the June 9, 2011, announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of their intent to issue voluntary guidance to industry on nanotechnology products as "a small, but encouraging first step towards regulation." Read the Whole Article

July 30th, 2011 OEHHA Revises Proposed Regulation for Hazard Traits and Environmental and Toxicological Endpoints Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announced on July 29, 2011, that it revised its proposed regulation concerning the specification of hazard traits, environmental and toxicological endpoints, and other relevant data that are to be included in California's Green Chemistry Toxics Information Clearinghouse. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) will use information from the Clearinghouse to help identify chemicals of concern in consumer products as part of its Green Chemistry Program. Read the Whole Article

July 22nd, 2011 NNI Releases Reports from EHS Workshops Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On July 19, 2011, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) announced the release of four reports from a series of workshops focusing on issues in the nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (EHS) arena. The workshops were a part of an ongoing strategy to coordinate nanotechnology-related EHS research by convening experts from industry, academia, and the federal government to share the latest information and newest developments, to discuss the current state-of-the-science, and to identify research gaps in the nanotechnology-related EHS field. NNI states that "knowledge gleaned from the nanoEHS workshop series was critical to the development of the soon-to-be-released, updated NNI EHS Research Strategy." Read the Whole Article

July 20th, 2011 EPA Updates Information of Nano Regs Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) July 7, 2011, Regulatory Agenda contains information of interest to nanotechnology stakeholders. The Regulatory Agenda is a summary of all rulemaking initiatives -- advanced, proposed, and near final -- that EPA has in the pipeline. The document is an excellent resource that lawyers and interested others routinely review to get a sense of what is coming down the pike. Read the Whole Article

July 13th, 2011 EPA Extends Comment Period on Nanoscale Materials in Pesticide Products Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice on July 13, 2011, extending the comment period concerning possible approaches for obtaining information about what nanoscale materials are present in registered pesticide products until August 17, 2011. EPA received requests from CropLife America, the Biocides Panel of the American Chemistry Council, the Chemical Producers & Distributors Association, the International Center for Technology Assessment, and the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association (NanoBCA). Read the Whole Article

July 8th, 2011 Recast RoHS Directive: Nano Implications Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The recast of the Directive on the Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) was published in the July 1, 2011, Official Journal of the European Union. The notice calls for the restriction of other hazardous substances and their substitution by more "environmentally friendly alternatives." Importantly for nano stakeholders, the notice specifically states that these "other hazardous substances" include "any substances of very small size or with a very small internal or surface structure (nanomaterials) which may be hazardous due to properties relating to their size or structure." Read the Whole Article

June 30th, 2011 Netherlands Delegation Notes Risks Associated with Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The Netherlands delegation submitted a paper entitled "Risks associated with nanomaterials" for discussion during the June 21, 2011, meeting of the Environment Council of the European Union (EU). The paper states that under current EU legislation and the precautionary principle, "industry bears primary responsibility for the safety of its products for workers and consumers." The current legislation is intended, however, "to assess the hazards of chemical substances used in products, such as cosmetics, but is not geared to evaluating the specific hazards related to nanoengineered particles." According to the delegation, a key problem is the lack of a generally accepted definition of what constitutes a nanomaterial. Read the Whole Article

June 23rd, 2011 Senate Convenes Nano Caucus Briefing Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On June 22, 2011, the Congressional Nanotechnology Caucus convened its first meeting in 2011 and hosted its inaugural Nanotechnology Caucus Lecture: Nanotechnology 101. The Nanotechnology Caucus is a bipartisan group of Members dedicated to promoting nanotechnology. Opening remarks were provided by Vincent Caprio, Executive Director, NanoBusiness Commercialization Association. Attendees were then treated to extensive remarks by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a tireless champion of nanotechnology. Read the Whole Article

June 16th, 2011 FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Nanotechnology: Agency Will Accept Public Comment for 60 Days Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On June 9, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted on its home page a Draft Guidance on Considering Whether an FDA-Regulated Product Involves Application of Nanotechnology. FDA announced the availability of the Draft Guidance in the June 14, 2011, Federal Register. 76 Fed. Reg. 34715. FDA states that this document is the first step in providing regulatory clarity about the use of nanomaterials in FDA-regulated products and other more product-specific guidance documents are likely to follow. Specifically, the Draft Guidance is "intended to help industry and others identify when they should consider potential implications for regulatory status, safety, effectiveness, or public health impact that may arise with the application of nanotechnology in FDA-regulated products." Comments on the Draft Guidance are due August 15, 2011. Read the Whole Article

June 9th, 2011 OECD Provides Snapshot on Current and Planned Activities on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. As many people know, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is deeply engaged in nanotechnology initiatives. The OECD is an intergovernmental organization that includes 34 member countries, of which the United States is one, and maintains relationships with 70 others. Read the Whole Article

June 3rd, 2011 OECD Provides Snapshot on Current and Planned Activities on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 26, 2011, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) posted a useful document entitled "Current Developments/Activities on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials." The document provides information on the outcomes and developments of the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) related to the safety of manufactured nanomaterials. OECD states that the document "provides a snapshot of information on current/planned activities related to the safety of manufactured nanomaterials in OECD member countries and other delegations that attended the 8th meeting of OECD's Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (Paris France, 16-18 March 2011)." The document also includes written reports on current activities from other international organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and World Health Organization (WHO). Read the Whole Article

May 27th, 2011 Australia's NICNAS: New Chemicals Processes for Industrial Nanomaterials Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Last October, the Australian Chemical Gazette announced that the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) was introducing new administrative processes for the notification and assessment of industrial nanomaterials that are considered to be "new" chemicals. The new administrative provisions were effective on January 1, 2011, and apply to any new chemical that falls under the working definition of "industrial nanomaterial." NICNAS also issued guidance on the notification program. Noted below is a brief background with the new notification program. Read the Whole Article

May 19th, 2011 ECHA Preparing Nano Inventory from REACH and CLP Submissions Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is compiling an inventory of nanomaterials included in the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) registration dossiers and Classification, Labeling, and Packaging (CLP) notifications for the European Commission (EC), and intends to deliver the inventory by the end of June 2011. The EC requested the inventory in response to the 2009 European Parliament communication on nanomaterials. Read the Whole Article

May 11th, 2011 UCSF's Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment Publishes Recommendations for Addressing Health Risks from Nanomaterials in California Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 5, 2011, the University of California, San Francisco's (UCSF) Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment announced the publication of its Recommendations for Addressing Potential Health Risks from Nanomaterials in California, which provides recommendations for addressing potential health risks from nanomaterials to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and to the State of California. OEHHA contracted with UCSF to prepare the report, which provides an overview of nanotechnology materials, potential exposures, and human-health risks, and recommendations for addressing potential health hazards and risks from nanotechnology. Recommendations include those that can be implemented under the existing regulatory structure of OEHHA, such as establishing a publicly accessible clearinghouse and inventory of nanomaterial sources and products. Read the Whole Article

May 6th, 2011 EPA Issues Final SNUR for Certain Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On May 6, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated a final significant new use rule (SNUR) under Section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical substance identified generically as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), which was the subject of premanufacture notice (PMN) P-08-199. Under the final SNUR, persons intending to manufacture, import, or process MWCNT for a use that is designated as a significant new use by the final rule must notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity. Read the Whole Article

April 29th, 2011 EPA Closing in On Nanopesticide Reporting Policy Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. About a year ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intent to adopt a policy presuming that an active or inert ingredient will be considered "new" under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) if the ingredient is or contains a "nanoscale material" and requiring any registrant of a pesticide product registered under FIFRA that is aware the product contains a nanoscale material to submit the information to EPA pursuant to FIFRA Section 6(a)(2). The "classification" policy came as no surprise and many believe it reflects a legally defensible interpretation of FIFRA. The "reporting" policy, however, was greeted with immediate and strong resistance. A logical inference of EPA's new reporting policy is that EPA must regard the mere presence of a nanoscale material to be "adverse" since EPA regulations generally limit the obligation of a registrant to report information pursuant to FIFRA Section 6(a)(2) to information that concerns "adverse effects." Read the Whole Article

April 27th, 2011 UK FSA Publishes Report of Consumers' Views on Nano in Food and Food Packaging Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 21, 2011, the United Kingdom's (UK) Food Standards Agency (FSA) published a report of consumers' views on the use of nanotechnology in food and food packaging. FSA convened a focus group in late 2010 and early 2011, and asked participants about their views on nanotechnology. Read the Whole Article

April 23rd, 2011 Study Assesses Exposure in Workplaces Manufacturing Nanosized Titanium Dioxide and Silver Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. Inhalation Toxicology has published an article entitled, "Exposure assessment of workplaces manufacturing nanosized TiO2 and silver," which monitored the possible exposure to nanoparticles at workplaces that manufacture nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) and nano-silver. See informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08958378.2011.562567 Based on the study results, the TiO2 and silver nanoparticle concentrations were relatively lower than existing occupational exposure limits. Read the Whole Article

April 22nd, 2011 Scientists Investigate Metallic Silver Nanoparticles in Pilot Wastewater Treatment Plant Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. The potential presence of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) in municipal wastewater has been the subject of considerable debate in recent years. While silver ion toxicity is well understood, less is understood about the environmental impacts of nanosilver, particularly on sewage treatment plants. Read the Whole Article

April 16th, 2011 House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on NNI Oversight Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 14, 2011, the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled "Nanotechnology: Oversight of the National Nanotechnology Initiative and Priorities for the Future." According to the hearing charter, the purpose of the hearing was to examine the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) and address the Nation's research and development priorities for the future. Read the Whole Article

April 15th, 2011 Industry Offers EPA First Nanomaterial Proposed Testing Agreement Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. On April 6, 2011, the NanoSafety Consortium submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a proposed testing agreement under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The Consortium consists of a group of single-, double-, and multi-walled carbon nanotube manufacturers, including: Angstron Materials LLC, Applied Sciences, Inc., Cheap Tubes, Inc., Continental Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc., Nano-C, Inc., NanoLab, Nanoshel, LLC, Pyrograf Products, SouthWest NanoTechnologies, Inc., and XG Sciences, Inc. Read the Whole Article

March 31st, 2011 Nanotech Items of Interest Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. 1) OECD Publishes Booklet On Nanosafety At The OECD 2) ASME Nanotechnology Institute Posts New Podcast In Nano Educational Series 3) NIOSH Requests Information To Update Its Nanotechnology Strategic Plan 4) PEN Reports Increase In Nano-Enabled Consumer Products Read the Whole Article

March 26th, 2011 What's New in the U.S. on Nano? Lynn L. Bergeson Managing Director, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. With GlobalChem 2011 concluding this week, it is timely to take stock in the status of nanotechnology governance activities underway at the federal level. Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided a brief update on regulatory initiatives in their remarks at the conference. Here is a quick summary of key initiatives. Read the Whole Article