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JRC contributions to the Second Regulatory Review for Nanomaterials

— filed under: nanosafety, nanotech, nanotoxicology, nanomaterials, nanobiosciences

As the Commission's in-house science service, the JRC has participated, together with other Commission DGs, in the preparation of the Communication

Nanoparticles cell interaction: fluorescent microscope analysis of nanoparticles inside cells. Copyright EU 2012

Contact Name	JRC-IHCP, Nanotechnology

The European Commission has adopted today the Second Regulatory Review for Nanomaterials. Nanotechnology has the potential to create major technological breakthroughs and rekindle economic growth. In recognition of this fact, the Commission presents its plans to improve EU law to ensure its safe use.

The JRC is actively involved in providing scientific support to EU policy making in the field of nanomaterials. Activities focus mainly on facilitating EU-wide harmonisation and standardisation of analytical methods needed to implement EU measures, on providing reference materials, and on contributing to the development of improved and harmonised safety assessment methods.

The JRC works on developing and validating methods to detect and identify nanomaterials in consumer products, such as sunscreens, food and food contact materials, as well as on adapting and optimising in-vitro test methods for hazard assessment of nanomaterials. This is done in close collaboration with research partners. Furthermore, the JRC carries out inter-laboratory studies, maintains a repository of representative samples of nanomaterials for safety testing, and develops reference materials certified at the nanoscale.

In parallel to this research work, the JRC:

participates in activities of related working groups, standardisation bodies and committees, including the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
participates in OECD committees and working parties in relation to safety assessment of manufactured nanomaterials
coordinates the group of Member States Representatives (EU National Coordinators) that decide on testing methods and integrated testing strategies for nanomaterials and other chemicals to be included in the Test Method Regulation (Reg (EC) No 440/2008).

Moreover, the JRC has created and maintains the JRC NANOhub, a comprehensive IT platform (http://www.nanohub.eu) dedicated to the management of physico-chemical and toxicological information on nanomaterials.

Document Actions

News: Highlights: Major EU regulatory tool enhanced with JRC reporting forms - Apr 17, 2013; JRC scientists contribute to the synthesis of radiolabelled gold nanoparticle aerosols for rodent inhalation and translocation studies - Mar 28, 2013; JRC scientists introduce "representative test materials" - Mar 21, 2013; New experiments at the JRC Cyclotron on the production of Rhodium-105 from enriched Ruthenium-104 - Feb 20, 2013; Flame retardant materials: JRC-IHCP is partner of the 3-year FP7 project DEROCA - Feb 14, 2013; Radiolabelled silver nanoparticles synthesized at the JRC Cyclotron - Feb 06, 2013; JRC Technical Report and Presentations now available: Symposium 'Safety issues and regulatory challenges of nanomaterials', May 2012 - Jan 25, 2013; Live Webstreaming 30.01 9h30-16h30 CET: Workshop on the Second Regulatory Review on Nanomaterials - Jan 30, 2013; JRC scientists investigate toxicity of gold nanoparticles - Jan 23, 2013; Krzysztof Maruszewski new Director of JRC-IHCP as from 01 January 2013 - Jan 10, 2013; see all

News: Publications: Updated list of materials in the JRC Nanomaterials Repository - Oct 27, 2011; The JRC MC40 Cyclotron and nanoparticle activation - Jul 04, 2011; Poster: Support to policy - Nanotechnology - Part 2 - Jun 16, 2011; Poster: Support to policy - Nanotechnology - Part 1 - Jun 16, 2011; E. Anklam: "Bridging Science and Policy to Support Innovation and Consumers’ Acceptance of Nanotechnology" - Jun 16, 2011; Updated list of materials in the JRC Nanomaterials Repository - May 26, 2011; see all

News: Call: Call for interest in a Grantholder 30 position in IHCP – Physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials for regulatory assessment - Deadline: 20 May 2013 -; Call for interest in a Grantholder 30 position in IHCP – Nanobiosciences (RADAR) - Deadline: 20 May 2013 -; Call for interest in a Grantholder 30 position in IHCP – NANoREG - Deadline: 20 May 2013 -; see all

News: Multimedia: Watch our videoclip "Small materials, big impact" - Oct 17, 2011; see all

Deliverables: Reports: JRC Technical Report and Presentations: Symposium 'Safety issues and regulatory challenges of nanomaterials', May 2012 - Feb 02, 2013 - Jan 02, 2013; JRC report " Requirements on measurements for the implementation of the European Commission definition of the term 'nanomaterial'" - Sep 17, 2012; Joint JRC-EASAC Report "Impact of engineered nanomaterials on health: considerations for benefit-risk assessment" - Oct 18, 2011; Summary Report - Joint JRC Nano Event and 2nd ENPRA Stakeholders Workshop 2011 - Jan 10, 2011; Report of Workshop "Early Harvest of Research Results on Nanosafety" - Sep 13, 2010; see all

Watch our video "Small materials, big impact": The video, issued in October 2011, illustrates JRC activities in support to safety assessment of nanomaterials in consumer products.

Watch it on You Tube, JRC channel

Related terms: hazard

nanotechnology

silver nanoparticles

OECD

ISO

hazard assessment

integrated testing strategies

assay

CEN

in vitro methods

nanomaterials

nanoscale

NANOhub

As the Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre's mission is to provide EU policies with independent, evidence-based scientific and technical support throughout the whole policy cycle. Working in close cooperation with policy Directorates-General, the JRC addresses key societal challenges while stimulating innovation through developing new methods, tools and standards, and sharing its know-how with the Member States, the scientific community and international partners. Key policy areas include: environment and climate change; energy and transport; agriculture and food security; health and consumer protection; information society and digital agenda; safety and security, including nuclear; all supported through a cross-cutting and multidisciplinary approach.

Last update: Oct 03, 2012

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