Policy
News
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news/archive
October 10, 2013
New Case Study Explores Influence of PEN Efforts
A new case study looks at the work of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) amidst the shift away from government-led technology assessment.
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news/archive
October 3, 2012
NIOSH, CDC to Examine Health Effects of Carbon Nanotubes in Workplace
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health are taking public comment on their plans for a new exposure assessment and epidemiological study of U.S. workers that are exposed to carbon nanotubes and nanofibers.
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news/archive
January 13, 2012
New EC Publication Marks New Strategy Towards Responsible Innovation
The European Commission’s Science in Society Programme reflects on how to proceed towards Responsible Research and Innovation in the Information and Communication Technologies and Security Technology fields.
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news/archive
November 4, 2010
Voluntary Initiatives, Regulation, and Nanotechnology Oversight
A new PEN report provides the first ever analysis of voluntary initiatives to regulate nanotechnology. As nanotechnologies move forward, along with other emerging technologies, voluntary programs will play an important role in the governance portfolio available to the federal government as well as states and municipalities.
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news/archive
November 1, 2010
National Nanotechnology Initiative releases draft of new strategic plan
The National Nanotechnology Initiative has posted a new draft strategic plan and is accepting public comments until November 30, 2010.
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news/archive
May 7, 2010
New EPA definition for “nano” could affect state of regulations
At an April 29 presentation to the Pesticide Programs Dialogue Committee in Washington, D.C. EPA’s William Jordan announced a new working definition of nanomaterials.
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news/archive
April 26, 2010
Reinventing Technology Assessment for the 21st Century
A new report defines the criteria for a new technology assessment function in the United States, emphasizing the need to incorporate citizen-participation methods to complement expert analysis.
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news/archive
February 17, 2010
Organising Collective Responsibility
A new paper makes a case for organizing collective responsibility through instruments beyond the regulatory system, such as codes of conduct and various deliberative assessment mechanisms within and outside the policy context.
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news/archive
January 7, 2010
A call for more transparency and research funding for nanotechnology in the food industry
The UK House of Lords Science and Technology Committee today released its first report of session 2009-10 “Nanotechnologies and Food” where they criticized the food industry for “failing to be transparent about its research into the uses of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials.”
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news/archive
December 17, 2009
Members of Wisconsin State Assembly Seek Nanotechnology Registry
Three members of the Wisconsin State Legislature have requested a Legislative Council study to be conducted on the feasibility of creating a nanotechnology registry and the development of subsequent legislation, to monitor the use, manufacture and disposal of nanomaterials in Wisconsin.
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news/archive
October 13, 2009
Nanolessons for Revamping Government Oversight of Technology
A new article by PEN senior advisor J. Clarence (Terry) Davies calls for radical change in how the federal government oversees nanotechnology and other technologies to best protect human health and the environment.
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news/archive
July 29, 2009
5 years on - a beacon or just a landmark?
A new report from The Responsible Nano Forum marks the 5 year anniversary of the release of the seminal report from the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties.
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news/archive
April 28, 2009
Former EPA Official Calls For New Environmental & Consumer Protection Agency
Existing health and safety agencies are unable to cope with the risk assessment, standard setting and oversight challenges of advancing nanotechnology. In a landmark report, Oversight of Next Generation Nanotechnology, J. Clarence Davies highlights the need for a new agency to address current forms of pollution and to deal with the health and environmental impacts of the technically complex products promised by rapid 21st century scientific advances.
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news/archive
February 26, 2009
Revisiting the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
Today the U.S. House of Representatives began the process of re-examining the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. According to the the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, “The hearing will address critical gaps in the statute and explore how these gaps hinder effective chemical safety policy in the United States.”
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news/archive
February 11, 2009
Stimulus Debate Highlights Need for Focus on Nanotech Risks
The nearly $800 billion stimulus package being debated in Congress contains a number of measures intended to improve information technology, infrastructure and the energy economy in the United States – all areas that will be greatly aided by nanotechnology. Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation that makes the importance of understanding the possible risks posed by engineered nanomaterials a centerpiece of the goverment’s reauthorization of funding for nanotechnology research. The bill highlights the growing need to learn more about the possible environmental, health and safety dangers posed by some nanoscale materials.