Canada Preparing to Collect Information on Engineered Nanomaterials

National Nanomanufacturing Network: On January 28, the Woodrow Wilson Center's Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) issued a press release stating that the Canadian government is preparing to collect information from companies on their use of engineered nanomaterials. The Canadian Press published a parallel story also on January 28.

According to these reports, Canada will issue a notice requiring companies and institutions that used more than 1 kilogram of nanomaterials in 2008 to provide details of that use, including the quantity of nanomaterials used, how they were used, and information on their known toxicity. This notice, instituted by Environment Canada, will not require compaines to submit information beyond 2008, but the Canadian government could issue the request again in the future. The information gathered from this action will help to craft a regulatory framework for the country; the action itself is seen as an important step toward international regulation. 

Original stories:

• The PEN press release
• The Canadian Press story

Commentary:

• PorterWright Nanotechnology Law Report commentary
  with followup from February 6
  
• Howard Lovy's Small Tech Talk Blog commentary