Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Numerous nanomaterials are available on the market, while doubts exist concerning the risks to health and to the environment associated with them. The seminar will allow discussions to be held on the traceability of nanomaterials in chemical substances and consumer articles. This seminar will review the legislative initiatives in progress in order to establish an operational framework for the management of incidents in the short term and to achieve improved risk management in the long term.

The durability of the innovations involves undeniable social and economic aspects, but at the same time the environmental and health aspects should not be neglected. These latter aspects will be at the heart of this seminar. Nanomaterials are currently available on the market, while at scientific level there are many doubts concerning in particular the standards, the test methods, the metrology, the chemical names, the toxicology and the eco-toxicology concerning them.

The dangers to the environment and to health have been recognised in certain cases but these situations cannot be generalised for all nanomaterials. The present situation combines high potential dangers with important unknowns. It is therefore even more necessary to have adequate scientific, technical and regulatory tools available for the management of potential environmental and health incidents. Knowledge of the industries and the nanomaterials involved, of the quantities on the market, of the extent of the exposed environment and populations, and the availability of centralised and up-to-date details concerning toxicology and eco-toxicology are all relevant and necessary items of information.

In the morning, the presentations will deal with the difficulties of traceability, the links between traceability, information and transparency, and the present effectiveness of the national and European legislations. These presentations are intended for a well-informed public (journalists, administrations, scientific experts involved, parliamentarians, NGOs, industry, etc.).

The afternoon will be given over to representatives of the Member States of the European Union and of the European Commission and must allow discussions to take place on the legislative initiatives in progress concerning traceability.

This seminar does not deal with the nanomaterials found in foodstuffs, cosmetics and medicines. It concentrates instead on chemical substances and consumer articles.