As part of the OECD/German Environment Agency June 16 workshop 'Advanced materials - online conferences. Identification of action needs on chemical safety - Approaches for structuring the field, prioritisation and assessment', NIA presented a snapshot position from industry, when considering the terminology 'Advanced Materials'.
Following a short survey with 30 participants presented initial findings at the meeting. The survey was intended as an initial insight into industrial perception, recognition and use of term ‘Advanced Materials’ and potential application of this knowledge into regulatory frameworks relevant to companies, with a pathway for policy and regulatory aims.
The full report from NIA will be published in July and support development of the position paper ‘The position of nanoforms within ‘Advanced Materials’ definition and policy frameworks’.
Within the OECD meeting, NIA's key premiminary outcomes included:
- Most survey respondents use the term 'Advanced Materials' but this is not translated beyond marketing, investment and business development
- Perception of the definition is extremely varied, often using time-fluid language such as a 'novel' and 'new' as the primary driver of whether a material is advanced or not
- Most respondents considered that existing regulatory frameworks covered materials that would be defined as 'advanced'
- The greater challenge was not seen as gaps within regulation, but rather missing Test Guidelines for more complex materials
NIA will work with members to build a position and recommendations for the future of 'Advanced Materials' within a commercial, policy and regulatory landscape, recognising that the term is here to stay and that it must be addressed within impactful and practical framework.
