Who is the CEF?

Community Engagement Forum

The Community Engagement Forum (CEF) was established by NICNAS to recognise the importance of equitable and representative engagement with civil society in the regulation of industrial chemicals in Australia.

The six-member committee (see names and details of current members under 'Have your say' in the right-hand column) is drawn from peak representative organisations which represent the interests of the community, environment, worker and public health and safety. The principle of ‘Community Right to Know’ underpins the work of the committee and is enshrined by the NICNAS Community Engagement Charter.

Please click:
ý to read about the CEF and the community engagement charter, and 
" to explore lots of information (on the NICNAS website)
or email
the CEF members:  (all six members) or
the CEF Secretariat if you are unable to find answers to specific queries or concerns.

Existing Chemicals Review Program

Final report now available

The Final Report and Recommendations of the Existing Chemicals Program Review  (click to access) has been accepted in full by the Director NICNAS, who in turn received policy approval from the former Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP.

The CEF developed and facilitated a successful national public engagement program, visiting all states and territories in Australia enabling interested stakeholders to express their views on the program and offer valuable community, environmental, worker and public health and safety input. The CEF developed a paper which outlines all Key Issues that were raised at the public engagement forums, during the public engagement period.

The report made 23 recommendations based upon five key drivers:
1. Better engagement and communication
2. Enhancing mechanisms to identify chemicals of concern: new screening processes
3. Improving efficiency
4. Targeted assessments
5. Increasing legislative reach-enhanced control powers.

An implementation strategy is currently being developed by NICNAS in consultation with key stakeholders, including the CEF. It will be available on the Review of the Existing Chemicals Program page of the NICNAS website.

Nanomaterials

An Emerging Issue

Nanomaterials are materials designed at a molecular level to produce products/materials that have unique and/or enhanced properties. At minute sizes ie. 0.000000001 of a metre, manufacturers of potentially any product (including cosmetics, surface coatings, water treatment and printing) can utilise this fast-growing technology of nanomaterials.

Whilst these industries embrace the technology with great enthusiasm, there is equally great concern amongst the worker, public health and environmental protection sectors. There is little research into the possible or known risks to health and the environment both in the long and short terms.

Nanomaterials are already out in the market but there is little information on just how many products or materials are in use because there are no legal requirements for labelling them. This creates an urgent need for data to inform worker, public health and environmental safety assessments.

For more information see (click title to access each document):
< Australian Government's Options for a National Nanotechnology Strategy Report
< NICNAS's Nanomaterials Information Sheet
< NICNAS's findings from its Summary of Call for Information on the Use of Nanomaterials 
< Australian Government's Review of the Potential Occupational Health and Safety Implications of Nanotechnology

Formaldehyde

NICNAS recently published a detailed assessment of Formaldehyde (click to access).

The report highlights worker and public health risks (particularly for those working in embalming, forensic/hospital mortuaries and pathology labs). Recommendations include avoiding and substituting less hazardous or formaldehyde-free products, and avoiding all contact and handling of this chemical wherever possible. Adherence to health protective standards as outlined in the report is essential for worker and public health protection.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

MCS is a chronic condition with multiple symptoms, which is linked to an extreme intolerance or sensitivity to low levels of chemicals. MCS is often associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

In 2005 a Parliamentary Social Development Committee of the South Australian Government investigated the issue, and published a report of the inquiry (click to access the report).

The Office of Chemical Safety (OCS) and NICNAS are currently undertaking a review of MCS and are about to embark on a public engagement program. The NICNAS CEF has offered to provide input and advice to the OCS to ensure that best practice community communication is undertaken on this important issue.

Contact the CEF if you would like to be kept informed about this review.