5th Int. NanoRegulation-Conference 2009
Conference Issue
Download Conference Information
„No data, no market?“ – Challenges to nano-information and nano-communication
Consumers want to know what they buy, retailers want to know what they sell, processors and recyclers need to know what they handle. However, the relevant nanospecific information often does not reach these recipients because there is no obligation for transfer of nanospecific information. Nano-materials are likely to become “black boxes” in terms of information; as a consequence, consumer confidence decreases and politicians, NGO and consumer advocates are calling for transparency, declaration and labelling.
The European Parliament unmistakably stated: „No Data, No Market “in it`s 2009 report on regulatory aspects of nanomaterials. The politicians wanted manufactured nanomaterials to be treated as new substances, requiring extensive safety testing and mandatory labelling.
Nano-inside: Information within the value chain: Must have or nice to have?
REACH and other European Chemicals Acts clearly shift the responsibility to ensure safe products to manufacturers and those who put them on the market. However, it remains unclear what kind of nanospecific information is needed at the different stages in the product life cycle, and how it should be delivered. What prerequisites and tools are necessary to ensure a purposeful and efficient information transfer along the value chain?
Key Issues and Questions of the NanoRegulation Conference:
Goals of the Conference:
1. Establishing a common understanding by analysing the current practice of Nano-information transfer.
2. Comparing different tools and approaches along the value chain.
3. Discussing the different points of view of politicians, NGO, consumer advocates and industry (Producer, Processor, Retailer, Recycler)
4. Outlining how existing procedures and instruments for information transfer need to be revised and adapted.
5. Developing guidelines and requirements for efficient and useful Nano-information in the future.
Questions that will be addressed:
· Which information on manufactured nanomaterials is required at each stage of the product value chain, including recycling and disposal?
· Which instruments for information transfer already exist, what is their purpose and how well do they prove themselves regarding manufactured nanomaterials?
· What does “No Data, No Market” mean in the real world for manufacturers, retailers and consumers?
· How can existing tools and procedures be adapted to meet the specific requirements of nano-safety information transfer? (Case studies)
· Who is responsible if it comes to implementing specific measures?
· What conclusions, recommendations and core issues can be derived from the results of the case studies?
Who should attend:
The NanoRegulation conference is addressed to executive representatives from international regulatory bodies, industry and insurance companies, scientists, NGO, associations, politicians, the media and the interested public.
Conference Program
NanoRegulation 25.11.2009: Political and societal needs and expectations towards “nano- information”
The first day of the 5th NanoRegulation conference will provide a comprehensive overview on the political and regulatory background of nanotechnology governance on the national, European and global level. In the light of the European Parliament calling for adaptations of the regulatory framework regarding manufactured nanomaterials, what will be the strategy of the European Commission? Which nano-specific information is indispensable for authorities and consumers? Which instruments for communication and transfer of nano-specific information along the value chain are available?
|
12.30 – 13.15 |
Inscription and welcome coffee |
|
13.15 – 13.25 |
Welcome note and introduction
Dr. Christoph Meili, CEO The Innovation Society Ltd., Switzerland |
|
|
Part 1: Setting the scene: Political and regulatory background |
|
13.25 – 13.50 |
European Commission: The existing regulatory framework and its appropriateness for nanotechnologies
Gustaaf Borchardt, DG Environment, Director Directorate D: Water, Chemicals and Cohesion, EU |
|
13.50 – 14.15 |
“No data, no market”: European Parliament’s regulatory requirements for manufactured nanomaterials
Carl Schlyter, Green Party EU-Parliament, EU (to be confirmed) |
|
14.15 – 14.40 |
OECD: Nano-information and communication on a global level
Peter Kearns, Head of Nanosafety Team, OECD Environment Directorate, United Kingdom |
|
14.40-15.00 |
Panel discussion |
|
15.00-15.30 |
Coffee break, poster presentation and exhibition |
|
|
Part 2: Stakeholder’s needs and expectations |
|
15.30 – 15.55 |
Product registration and public communication: What authorities need to know about nanomaterials
Prof. Dr. Rolf F. Hertel, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Germany |
|
15.55– 16.20 |
Consumer’s needs: What consumers want to know about nanotechnology
Laura Degallaix, European Consumer’s Organization BEUC, Belgium |
|
16.20 – 16.45 |
Supporting stakeholders needs and expectations through standardization
Peter Hatto, Chairman of ISO TC 229, United Kingdom |
|
16.00 – 17.00 |
Panel discussion |
|
17.00 – 17.10 |
Summary and outlook
Dr. Christoph Meili, CEO The Innovation Society Ltd., Switzerland |
|
16.50 – 18.00 |
Coffee, get together, networking, speaker’s dinner |
NanoRegulation 26.11.2009: Best practices in nano safety information and public communication
The second day of the 5th NanoRegulation conference will bring together the different members of the nanotechnology value chain to discuss who needs what kind of information. Three workshops will offer the participants the opportunity to point out their opinions, discuss them and suggest strategic guidelines for a feasible and effective information policy along the value chain and towards external stakeholders.
|
08.30 – 09.00 |
Inscription and Welcome coffee |
|
09.00 – 09.10 |
Welcome note and introduction
Dr. Christoph Meili, CEO The Innovation Society Ltd, Switzerland |
|
|
Part 3: “From cradle to grave”: Nano-information along the value chain |
|
09.10 – 09.35 |
Nanotechnology: Trade-off between innovation, economic opportunities and safety concerns
Eric Scheidegger, Ambassador, Deputy Director of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, Switzerland (to be confirmed) |
|
09.35 – 10.00 |
Manufacturing nanomaterials: What safety data and product information are provided by a manufacturer?
Dr. Barbara-Christine Richter, Bayer MaterialScience AG, HSEQ, Germany |
|
10.00 – 10.25 |
Nanotechnology within plastics: What nano-specific information is needed by processors?
Dr. Rüdiger Baunemann, PlasticsEurope, Germany |
|
10.25 – 10.50 |
Recycling nanomaterials: The challenges that nanomaterials present to the recycling industry
Bernard Merkx, President of European Plastics Recyclers, Netherlands (to be confirmed) |
|
10.50 – 11.15 |
Nanoparticles in consumer products: TA Swiss study on nanotechnology in the food sector
Andreas Hermann LL.M., Institute of Applied Ecology Darmstadt, Germany |
|
11.15 – 11.30 |
Panel discussion |
|
11.30 – 13.30 |
Lunch, poster presentation and exhibition |
|
|
Part 4: Better safe than sorry – but how? Workshop sessions (3 parallel workshops) |
|
13.30 – 15.15 |
Workshop 1: Consumer Products: Nano-labelling in consumer products
Workshop 2: Industry / nanomaterials: HSE relevant information flow to downstream users and authorities
Workshop 3: Material Safety Data Sheet: Adapting the MSDS to nanospecific regulation requirements |
|
15.15 – 15.30 |
Coffee break, poster presentation and exhibition |
|
15.30 – 16.40 |
Synthesis and outlook: Workshop results and conclusions:
“Strategic guidelines for a feasible and effective information policy along the value chain and towards external stakeholders”
|
|
16.40 – 16.50 |
Conference summary, synthesis and outlook
Dr. Christoph Meili, CEO The Innovation Society Ltd., Switzerland |
Contact Information
Die Innovationsgesellschaft mbH
NanoRegulation
Lerchenfeldstrasse 5
CH-9014 St.Gallen
Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)71 274 74 18
Email-Contact
Web: www.innovationsgesellschaft.ch
|
 |
Organizers
Patronage
Bronze Sponsors
Supported by
Media Partners
|
