Nanotechnology update

Major activities have been undertaken or planned recently by both government and other organisations. Several of these have involved NICNAS and/or CEF members. In summary:

Australian Office of Nanotechnology (AON)
Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, held a roundtable discussion of issues with key nanotechnology stakeholders (on 8 July 2008). 
Renata Musolino, ACTU nominee on the CEF, attended.

Important documents released recently include:
è  The Australian Government Approach to the Responsible Management of Nanotechnology (11 July 2008)
è  A report commissioned by AON and other agencies:
A review of possible impacts of nanotechnology on Australia's regulatory framework
è  Australian Community Attitudes Held about Nanotechnology – Trends 2005-2008 Summary
(4 August 2008)

NICNAS
Further work on the draft ‘voluntary information gathering initiative’ agreed to at the first Nanotechnology Advisory Group meeting held in March 2008. 

Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC)
è  The ASCC has nominated Nanotechnology as an ‘Emerging Issue’ 
è  Establishment of the Nanotechnology Working Group (first meeting 17 July 2008) where it was decided to undertake a ‘Survey of OHS Practices in Australian Organisations Handling Engineered Nanomaterials’.  The survey will commence in Queensland. 

State OHS Authorities
Various State OHS Authorities are also carrying out nanotechnology-related activities. For example:
è  WorkSafe Victoria has nominated it as an ‘emerging issue’
è  NSW held a parliamentary inquiry and WorkCover NSW is developing materials. 

The ACTU recently established a union nanotechnology reference group and signed up to the
International Principles for the Oversight of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials.

Senator Jan McLucas meets with CEF

 The CEF was pleased that Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, requested a meeting with us.

Senator McLucas, whose portfolio covers not only industrial chemicals, but also matters relating to the TGA, Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the National Blood Authority, attended the August 19 CEF meeting. 

In a wide-ranging discussion, CEF members were able to outline the main issues of concern of their stakeholders. The CEF was heartened to hear Senator McLucas strongly state her commitment to ongoing, genuine consultation with the community through the CEF, and her desire to maintain a working relationship with us.

Adverse Event Reporting

During the consultation phase of the Existing Chemicals Review in 2006 there was much discussion around the lack of a coordinated adverse event reporting framework for chemicals in Australia. Recommendation 4.3 from the Review Final Report states: "That NICNAS examine the feasibility of a nationally coordinated system of surveillance, monitoring and post market reporting." Detailed guidance was also provided in the Report on how NICNAS should conduct this examination.

NICNAS recently sought tenders from a select group of potential contractors for an information-gathering consultancy to "identify, review and describe data collection systems in place in Australia (by other authorities and groups) and in other countries".  It will also identify what type of data is likely to be adequate for NICNAS's needs, and identify data access mechanisms, including potential hindrances to access. 

It is envisaged that the information-gathering consultancy will finish in late February 2009.  The consultant’s report will be a major input into the work of a Technical Working Party (which will include nominees of CEF, government and industry) that will be convened at that time.

Community Engagement Framework

The CEF is working with NICNAS to operationalise the NICNAS Community Engagement Charter. The charter guides NICNAS in delivering community engagement that is underpinned by reliable, equitable and effective principles.

To apply these principles to NICNAS’s work, a framework is being developed so that NICNAS and the CEF are both able to deliver better community engagement processes. The framework will be important in the current implementation phase of the Existing Chemicals Review, which includes major recommendations requiring community engagement, as well as for other major works and assessments that are in the public interest.

Fundamental to effective engagement is the identification and development of an active, detailed and inclusive stakeholder engagement list. Since its inception CEF has provided input to NICNAS on developing this list. While the list has improved significantly over the past few years we believe that more work needs to be done. A better list is essential to ensuring that information reaches those who need it.

Early notification to and inclusion of the CEF in NICNAS’s public engagement activities will also be a key feature of the framework. We hope that the framework will be completed by the time the next Bulletin is published.

NICNAS Stakeholder Engagement List
If you would like to be added to the NICNAS Stakeholder Engagement List please send an email to the NICNAS communication team.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

In the last Bulletin we reported that the Office of Chemical Safety (OCS) had advised that the report A Scientific Review of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Identifying Key Research Needs had been finalised for public review.
 
OCS had further advised:
è  there would be a pre-release briefing for MCS interest groups prior to the general public release of the report, and
è  the report would be released shortly thereafter with a 'correction' phase; ie. an opportunity to correct any factual errors.

Initially, the pre-release briefing was scheduled for early September but several invitees were unable to attend and requested that the meeting be rescheduled to a time when more were able to attend. 

The meeting was held in Canberra on 30 October 2008.  The main agenda items were discussion of:
è  the contents of the report and opportunities to highlight issues of factual corrections, and
è  the mechanism for a broader public comment phase to make corrections to the report before it is finalised.

Please click on the link: A Scientific Review of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Identifying Key Research Needs to access the report, and the accompanying NICNAS MCS information sheet, from the NICNAS website.

The draft report is available for comment until 30 January 2009 (extended from 15 January 2009). Comments to: mcs@nicnas.gov.au.