The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will establish the “Committee on Safety Management for Nanomaterials” on the basis of the results obtained from the project “Research and Development of Nanoparticle Characterization Methods” commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and the latest scientific knowledge. Specifically, the committee will focus on risks (especially in view of exposure to nanomaterials in products) caused by nanomaterials and study appropriate management procedures for nanomaterials considering the actual usage and life cycles.
The first meeting of the committee will be held on December 2.
1. Purpose
Though nanomaterials are expected to be one of the sources of future innovation, considerable uncertainties regarding their hazardous properties exist and also concern for these hazardous properties caused by their particular shapes was pointed out. METI has compiled the “The Expert Meeting on Safety Measures for Nanomaterial Manufacturers etc.” (*1) in 2009 and has encouraged voluntary action by the industries by announcing the results of the “Nanomaterial Information Collection and Communication Program” (*2).
Further, in order to increase scientific knowledge on risks caused by nanomaterials (considering both their hazardous properties and exposure), the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) developed and disclosed, in the project “Research and Development of Nanoparticle Characterization Methods” (*3), reports on the risk assessment of manufactured nanomaterials (Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials - Titanium Dioxide-, -Fullerene-, -Carbon Nanotubes- (*4)). METI has contributed to the collection of hazard information on 13 nanomaterials in an international joint program organized by OECD with the results of this project.
We will hold a meeting of the “Committee on Safety Management for Nanomaterials” to discuss risks arising from nanomaterials and to study appropriate management procedures of nanomaterials considering the actual usage and life cycles on the basis of the latest scientific knowledge etc. as described above.
- *1 “The Expert Meeting on Safety Measures for Nanomaterial Manufacturers etc.” (PDF:1,090KB)
(in English) - *2 “Nanomaterial Information Collection and Communication Program”
http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/chemical_management/other/nano.html (in Japanese) - *3 “Research and Development of Nanoparticle Characterization Methods”
http://www.aist-riss.jp/projects/nedo-nanorisk/index_e.html
(in English) - *4 Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials
http://www.aist-riss.jp/main/modules/product/nano_rad.html?ml_lang=en(in English)
2. Major Agenda
Classification of shapes and risks of nanomaterials to study appropriate management procedures for them
3. Schedule
- The first meeting: 15:00 to 17:00 on Friday, December 2
Agenda: Purpose of the committee, report of the current status, organization of issues to be studied, future schedule, etc. - Interim report will be compiled around spring to summer in 2012
Release Date
November 30, 2011
Division in Charge
Chemical Management Policy Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau
