Nanotechnology has featured prominently on the OECD’s agenda over the past months. Following the launch of a project on nanotechnology at a special session in June, the U.S. hosted a workshop this month on “Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials”, in which a delegation of over 20 members of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) from the U.S., Europe and Japan, representing a range of different sectors, participated. The workshop brought together experts from government, industry, scientific institutions and NGOs to determine “state-of-the art” safety assessments of manufactured nanomaterial, focusing in particular on the identification of future needs for risk assessment within a regulatory context. The expertise and engagement of the BIAC participants was singled out for thanks by several delegations.
BIAC represents the major industry and employers' organizations in the 30 OECD member countries, bringing their views to bear on the OECD's policy-making process. USCIB is its U.S. affiliate.
One of the key conclusions of the conference was the recommendation to set up an OECD working group under the Chemicals Committee to continue work on nano Environment, Health and Safety issues. On a parallel track, the importance of nanotechnology innovation was raised at the last meeting of the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy, which will revisit the proposal to carry out further work in this area at its next meeting in March.
BIAC has taken a pro-active approach to get business involved in the early stages of OECD policy deliberation and has underlined the importance of this technology to the top OECD leadership. At this month’s consultation with OECD Ambassadors, BIAC experts underlined that the Organization can add the greatest value by focusing on nanotechnology in a balanced, broad and horizontal context that highlights nanotechnology's emerging role as a core driver for innovation, economic growth and development.
USCIB has been strongly engaged in all BIAC’s nanotechnology work, and anticipates active support on both EHS and Innovation nanotech initiatives going forward. For more information contact USCIB Nanotechnology Manager Alix Heywood (aheywood@uscib.org or 212-703-5090).
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Business to Meet with New OECD Group on Health – Increasing pressure on health care systems, partly due to population aging, has given rise to substantial concerns over the efficiency in the provision of health care services, increasing costs and their impacts on competitiveness. The development and design of effective responses to this major policy challenge urgently need attention. Acknowledging this, the OECD has stepped up its work in this area and set up a Group on Health to oversee health-related work carried out by several directorates. BIAC has been invited to share its views on a range of health issues at their first meeting on January 30-31. For more information, contact Alix Heywood (212-703-5090 or aheywood@uscib.org).
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