NanoRegulation Conference

Tuesday, September 16 - Wednesday, September 17, 2008

4th International NanoRegulation Conference 2008

Challenges in Current Nano Regulation
The topic of this year’s NanoRegulation Conference are voluntary measures in the identification, assessment, control and communication of nanotechnology risks (Nano Risk Governance). In the context of a rapidly evolving research field, existing regulations reach their limits. Authorities as well as industry and the public strive towards establishing a regulatory framework that is capable of coping with both opportunities and risks of this technology.

Voluntary Measures as an Opportunity
In this context, voluntary measures such as Codes of Conduct, Risk Management Systems (e.g. CENARIOS, Nano Risk Framework), certificates or disclosure agreements are increasingly discussed as an alternative to governmental prohibitions and commands. In other areas, these measures have proven to be flexible instruments for risk governance. However, in order for them to be effective, a close coordination among all involved parties is indispensable. To what extent these instruments can contribute to a safe development and use of the technology has only been marginally discussed.

A Platform for Dialogue and Exchange
Therefore, the conference offers a platform for discussion and opinion making on an international level, targeting decision makers in authorities, industry, the public and media. The aim is to substantiate several concepts of voluntary measures, to discuss experiences and to draw conclusions for the future. It shall be discussed to what extent voluntary measures are considered as a sound and sensible concept.

The conference consists of two blocks. During the first day (September 16th) concepts, design principles and experiences made with voluntary measures will be discussed. The second day (September 17th) will be devoted to the discussion of a new approach to international coordination.

Conference chair: Christoph Meili, CEO, The Innovation Society Ltd., Switzerland

.: Tuesday, 16th September 2008

.:Wednesday, 17th September 2008

Tuesday, 16th September 2008

09.00 - 09.15 h	Welcoming Coffee
09.15 - 09.35 h	Greeting and Introduction Christoph Meili, The Innovation Society Ltd., St.Gallen
09.35 - 09.50 h	Outlook for the first conference day Susan Kish, Switzerland
	Setting the Scene – Overview over Current Voluntary Measures in Nano Risk Governance
09.50 - 10.15 h	Legal Perspective – Significance of Voluntary Measures in the International Legal Context Stefanie Merenyi, University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt, Germany
10.15 - 10.40 h	Nano Liability Risks – Voluntary Measures from the Viewpoint of Liability Law Gerhard Schmid, Münchener Rück, Germany
10.40 - 11.00 h	Nano-Ethics in Science and Research – the Code of Conduct of the EU Peteris Zilgalvis, J.D., European Commission, Belgium
11.00 - 11.30 h	Coffee Break
	Cooperation is Key – Voluntary Measures as Cooperative Approaches of Industry and Legislators
11.30 - 12.20 h	The American Way – DuPont’s Participation in the Nanomaterials Stewardship Program of the EPA Terry Medley, J.D. DuPont, USA Jim Alwood, EPA, USA
12.20 - 12.50 h	The British Way – the Voluntary Reporting Scheme of the DEFRA Steve Morgan, DEFRA, UK
12.50 - 13.30 h	Panel: Coping with the Possibilities and Limits of Voluntary Measures Susan Kish, Switzerland
13.30 - 15.00 h	Lunch/Exhibition/Poster Session
	Do’s and Taboo’s – Experiences, Instruments and Best Practices
15.00 - 15.30 h	Systematic Risk Management in the Manu -facturing Industry Samuel Schär, Bühler PARTEC GmbH, Switzerland
15.30 - 16.00 h	Directive of the VCI for Responsible Produc -tion and Utilization of Nanomaterials Hans-Jürgen Klockner, VCI, Germany
16.00 - 16.30 h	Approaches in Retailing: the Code of Conduct of the IG DHS Thomas Gude, IG DHS, SQTS
16.30 - 17.00 h	Panel: Positive and Negative Experiences – What Conclusions can we Draw for the Future? Susan Kish, Switzerland
17.15 - 18.15 h	«Get Together» Networking-Event

Wednesday, 17th September 2008

09.00 - 09.15 h	Welcoming Coffee
09.15 - 09.25 h	Greeting and Introduction Christoph Meili, The Innovation Society Ltd., St.Gallen
09.25 - 09.50 h	Keynote: Voluntary Measures in Nano Risk Governance – the CENARIOS Approach Peter Langer, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH, Germany
	Focal Presentations: Voluntary Measures from the Viewpoint of Authorities and Industry in Different Countries
09.50 - 10.10 h	The Situation in Switzerland: An Action Plan for Responsible Development and Application of Nanotechnology Roland Charrière, Federal Office of Public Health, Switzerland
10.10 - 10.30 h	The Situation in Germany: Nano Dialog – Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials Klaus Günter Steinhäuser, Umweltbundesamt, Germany
10.30 - 10.50 h	The Situation in Austria: Risk Dialog, Nano Platform, and Voluntary Measures Thomas Jakl, Lebensministerium, Austria
10.50 - 11.20 h	Coffee Break
11.20 - 11.30 h	Introduction to the Workshops: Subject-Specific Focus in International Collaboration Christoph Meili, Die Innovationsgesellschaft, Switzerland
11.30 - 13.00 h	Workshop 1 Health & Occupational Safety Martin Gschwind, SUVA   Workshop 2 Environment Klaus Günter Steinhäuser, Umweltbundesamt   Workshop 3 Communications & Reputation Sergio Bellucci, TA Swiss
13.00 - 13.30 h	Presentation and Evaluation of the Workshops
13.30 - 13.45 h	Conclusion and Outlook Christoph Meili, The Innovation Society Ltd., St.Gallen
14.00 h	End of the Conference

By further questions please contact Peter Hürzeler, The Innovation Society Ltd, St.Gallen.

Phone: +41(0)71 274 74 18

Email: peter.huerzeler@innovationsgesellschaft.ch

Organizers:

Patronage NanoRegulation Conference:

Gold Sponsors NanoRegulation Conference:

Bronze Sponsor:

Supported by:

Contact

NanoEurope
Olma Messen St.Gallen
Splügenstrasse 12
CH-9008 St.Gallen
Switzerland

Phone: +41 (0)71 242 04 44
Fax: +41 (0) 71 242 02 32
Email: info@nanoeurope.com