Cefic seeks more open nanotechnology

Brussels - European chemicals industry group Cefic has staged its first "Europe-wide event" on nanotechnology, with a meeting in Brussels on 24 June to discuss how to foster the responsible development of sustainable advances in nanotechnology along with greater transparency and engagement with the general public.

The event was attended by more than 60 participants including speakers from academia and the European institutions and stakeholders from trade unions, NGOs and the value chain. They heard presentations from chemical companies detailing four real-life nano-enabled products in coatings and environmental technologies applications, including information on use, exposure, risk assessment and benefits across the life-cycle.

"This is the first step in a process to bring transparency and trust into the management of the use of nano-enabled products" said Daniel Verbist, Cefic executive director. A public dialogue on nanos in October 2008 run by the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers will be another highlight in the process, a Cefic statement added.