NanoKTN Announce Current Developments In Nanotechnology Standards & Regulations Seminar

It will take place on 19th March 2013 at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. Attendees will listen to feedback on the programme of developing international standards and the seminar will gather their opinions on the future direction of ISO/CEN/BSI committee activities, thereby giving a competitive advantage and voice to UK industry in determining how nanotechnology should be standardised. Additionally there is to be a discussion on the implications of the recent EC recommended definition for ‘nanomaterial’.



This comes as embedded nanotechnologies in new products are starting to come onto the market after a decade of intensive basic research. Innovations in both the up-scaled industrial manufacturing processes and real world applications have occurred. This, however, is balanced against human and environmental concerns about potential barriers to sustainable economic growth in the area were they not to be addressed adequately.



The keynote presentation will be delivered by Simon Holland, the Director of Process Understanding & Control at GSK and also the Chair of TC229 Committee on Nanotechnology, ISO International Organization for Standardization. Other presentations will be delivered by selected UK and European experts in this field, including the Netherland’s National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd, NanoSight Ltd, British Standards Institute, the NIA and the NanoKTN.



Dr James Johnstone, Theme Manager at the NanoKTN, comments, “In the last few years National, European and International standards committees have been publishing a growing body of standards which are achieving a state of maturity. These documents will be used to facilitate trade, underpin good industrial practice and ensure that the technology is exploited in a safe and responsible manner. There are obviously trade opportunities and threats for the UK-based nanotechnology industry which emanate from such publications and their reference to legislation. We want to ensure that UK industry has a competitive advantage and voice in determining how nanotechnology should be regulated and standardised.”



“We intend that this seminar will bring together academic, industrial and research institute stakeholders who are interested in the early development of standards, and help identify new opportunities to develop new or additional strategic standards in support of UK business development.”



The day will close with a discussion session on new areas for the development of standards before gathering feedback from the general community and looking at suitable mechanisms to take forward actions. A report will be produced and published by the NanoKTN and NIA.