The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), under the Steering Group on Advanced Materials (SG AdMa), hosted a workshop on 26–27 November 2024 focused on graphene and graphene family materials. The workshop aimed to provide an overview of these materials, covering their:
- Physico-chemical properties
- Human and environmental toxicity
Key participants included representatives from regulatory agencies, contract research organizations (CROs), and industry. Discussions also incorporated sustainability assessments, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA).
Workshop Highlights
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Early4AdMa Approach
The workshop examined the use of the OECD’s Early4AdMa framework to proactively address safety and sustainability challenges associated with novel materials, using graphene as a case study. -
Main Outcomes
- Recommendations were developed for Regulatory Preparedness and Safe(r)-and-Sustainable-by-Design approaches.
- These recommendations aim to guide the responsible development and use of graphene-based materials.
Next Steps
The OECD is expected to publish a public report summarizing the workshop outcomes soon.
NIA Member Inquiries
NIA members interested in more details about the workshop can contact Blanca Suárez, NIA Director of Regulatory Affairs, at blanca.suarez@nanotechia.org.
Stay tuned for the forthcoming OECD report, which will provide further insights and actionable recommendations from the workshop
