Transparent standard for voluntary nano-certification
Transparent standard for voluntary nano-certification
While the pace of development in the field of nanotechnology has brought existing regulations face to face with their limitations, at the same time the importance of voluntary action in recording, evaluating and monitoring safety risks is increasing. TÜV SÜD and The Innovation Society, St. Gallen, will present the master document of their CENARIOS® standard at the 4th NanoRegulations Conference in St. Gallen on 16 September 2008. The open-access document is designed to increase transparency in the assessment and control of potential risks in the field of nanotechnology.
Anti-bacterial textiles, water-resistant coatings, sun cream that absorbs UV rays or increased storage capacity for hard disk drives – nanotechnology offers a host of potential applications and improvements. "However, the enormous commercial opportunities offered by this future-oriented technology are set against risks that should not be underestimated", warns Thorsten Weidl of TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. To guarantee safety in the production and use of nanomaterials, regulatory standards and voluntary action must work hand in hand. "These risks can be controlled by combining standardized risk management systems with seamless documentation“, explains Weidl. "In addition, such flexible tools provide the necessary scope for future advancement in the field.“
Certifiable risk management and monitoring system for nanotechnology
Working with The Innovation Society, St. Gallen, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service provides manufacturers, processors and distributors of nanomaterials with the opportunity of working to a standardized risk assessment and risk monitoring system. In 2006 and 2007 the partners were commissioned by a leading nanotechnology company to design and implement CENARIOS®, the first certifiable risk management and monitoring system, and completed the project successfully. "The next step is to establish open-access status for the master document for certification processes according to the CENARIOS® standard“, continues Weidl.
"This will serve as the basis for further dissemination of the standard and enhance risk management transparency in the field of nanotechnology.“
The CENARIOS® system focuses on four coordinated modules: Risk Assessment and Evaluation, Risk Monitoring, Issues Management and Communication, and Certification. Application of these modules enables risks and potential hazards along the entire value chain to be detected at an early stage, realistic evaluations of the need for safety-relevant action to be performed and preventive action to be taken to systematically reduce potential dangers. "When developing the standard, we used methods and tools aligned to the goal of risk analysis and assessment for nanotechnology processes, procedures and products“, explains Weidl. "CENARIOS® provides management teams with a precise overview of the current scope of risks involved in their products and processes, and of technological, economic and social developments." The standard thus also forms a sustainable basis for business decision-making.
According to Thorsten Weidl, the CENARIOS® standard can basically be applied in all industries in which nanotechnology plays a role, including the chemical, textile, packaging, cosmetics and automotive industries. "We can easily align the system to differing requirements for the production, processing and distribution of nanomaterials in the various industries", stresses Weidl. "Implementation is always based on the certification principles published in our CENARIOS master document.“
The master document for a risk management system in line with the CENARIOS standard can be found here 
. Further information about the 4th International NanoRegulation Conference can be found here .
Note: Dr. Peter Langer, CEO of TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH, is a keynote speaker at NanoEurope on 17 September 2008 with the topic „Voluntary Action in Nano Risk Governance – The CENARIOS Approach“.
Media Relations: Dr. Thomas Oberst
