International
Coalition Calls for Strong Nanotechnology
Oversight
[Posted 8/29/07]
A broad
international coalition of consumer, public health,
environmental, labor, and civil society
organizations spanning six continents has released
a document entitled “Principles for the Oversight
of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials,” which calls
for strong, comprehensive oversight of the new
technology and its products. The document
identifies eight fundamental principles that
coalition members believe will provide the
foundation for adequate and effective oversight.
These are:
1. A
Precautionary Foundation: Product manufacturers
and distributors must bear the burden of proof to
demonstrate the safety of their products: if no
independent health and safety data review, then no
market approval.
2.
Mandatory Nano-specific Regulations:
Nanomaterials should be classified as new
substances and subject to nano-specific oversight.
Voluntary initiatives are not sufficient.
3.
Health and Safety of the Public and Workers:
The prevention of exposure to nanomaterials that
have not been proven safe must be undertaken to
protect the public and workers.
4.
Environmental Protection: A full lifecycle
analysis of environmental impacts must be completed
prior to commercialization.
5.
Transparency: All nano-products must be labeled
and safety data made publicly available.
6.
Public Participation: There must be open,
meaningful, and full public participation at every
level.
7.
Inclusion of Broader Impacts: Nanotechnology’s
wide-ranging effects, including ethical and social
impacts, must be considered.
8.
Manufacturer Liability: Nano-industries must be
liable for any undesirable consequences from the
use of their products.
Hundreds
of consumer products incorporating nanomaterials
are currently on the market, including cosmetics,
sunscreens, sporting goods, clothing, electronics,
baby and infant products, and food and food
packaging, even though evidence indicates that
current nanomaterials may pose significant health,
safety, and environmental hazards. In addition, the
profound social, economic, and ethical challenges
posed by nano-scale technologies have yet to be
addressed.
According to Beth Burrows of the Edmonds Institute,
a public interest organization dedicated to
education about environment, technology, and
intellectual property rights, “As new technologies
emerge we need to ensure new materials and their
applications are benign and contribute to a healthy
and socially just world. Given our past mistakes
with ‘wonder technologies’ like pesticides,
asbestos, and ozone depleting chemicals, the rapid
commercialization of nanomaterials without full
testing or oversight is shocking. It is no surprise
that the public of the 21st century is demanding
more accountability.”
The
complete document
is available at numerous endorsing organizations
websites, including
www.icta.org.
Organizations can endorse the principles by
emailing
gkimbrell@icta.org.
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