Be a Creator of Nano Standards!

Standardization contributes to the safe use of nanotechnologies. Development of standards is taking place at European and international level. Everyone can participate and influence the content of standards.  

 

Nanotechnologies are likely to become the most important driver of economic growth in the 21st century. Application of nanotechnology will have impact on all aspects of life and it will enable progressive implementation in the area of communications, healthcare, manufacturing, materials and knowledge technologies. In the following years we can expect dramatic growth of nanotechnologies in industrial and consumer applications.

Owing to the size of the potential market that nanotechnologies offer, standardization activities addressing different aspects of this emerging field are very important.

The current international and European standardization activities in the field of nanotechnologies and nanoobjects

The technical committee ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies operates within the frame of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It has the following working groups (WG):

1. WG 1 Terminology and nomenclature
2. WG 2 Measurement and characterization
3. WG 3 Health, safety and environmental aspects of nanotechnologies
4. WG 4 Material specifications

More information including a list of standards in development or published standards can be found at the following link:

ISO - Technical committees - TC 229 - Nanotechnologies

(http://www.iso.org/iso/standards_development/technical_committees/list_of_iso_technical_committees/iso_technical_committee.htm?commid=381983)

The technical committee CEN/TC 352 Nanotechnologies operates within the frame of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). It has the following working groups (WG):

1. WG 1 Measurement, characterization and performance evaluation
2. WG 2 Commercial and other stakeholder aspects
3. WG 3 Health, safety and environmental aspects

More information can be found at the following link:

:: CEN - European Committee for Standardization :: Technical Committees, Workshops and other bodies

(http://www.cen.eu/cen/Sectors/TechnicalCommitteesWorkshops/CENTechnicalCommittees/Pages/default.aspx?param=508478&title=Nanotechnologies)

ISO/TC 229 and CEN/TC 352 work together on several projects within the Vienna agreement, but each of them has also its own projects. Besides these technical committees, the issue of nanoobjects and nanotechnologies touches other technical committees of CEN, CENELEC, ISO and IEC working in various fields. 

In 2010 the European Commission issued Mandate M/461 for standardization activities regarding nanotechnologies and nanomaterials with emphasis on ensuring public safety and protection of the environment. The mandate covers the following four areas:

• Methodologies for nanomaterial characterization in the manufactured form and before toxicity and eco-toxicity testing.
• Sampling and measurement of workplace, consumer and environment exposure
• Methods to simulate exposures to nanomaterials
• H, S & E (health, safety and the environment)

Technical Committee CEN/TC 352 was appointed to administrate execution of this mandate. When the mandate was analysed, it was found that cooperation with  other 13 technical committees of CEN, ISO and IEC is necessary to fulfil the mandate. It is planned that 47 standardization documents of different level will be created in the next twelve years,. It concerns European standards (EN), technical specifications (TS) and technical reports (TR).

Interested parties can participate in the following standardization activities:

• commenting on draft national, European and international standards

• membership in national committees

• participation in working groups (WG) of CEN, CENELEC, ISO or IEC

For more information please contact your national standards body which may be found at the following link: ISO - ISO members ; http://www.iso.org/iso/about/iso_members.htm

Fonte: NafiGate