Regulatory Compliance
The Nano Centre is able to provide support to industries developing nanomaterials so they are aligned with regulation developments. This will be in part through the excellence of delivering Nano Chemical Safety Assessments and Reporting to support commercialization of Nano technologies.
The distinctive physical characteristics of nanomaterials that make them attractive from a technical and commercial perspective have raised concerns relating to their possible impact on living systems. The discussion over how and where the regulation of nanotechnology should be developed is ongoing both at European level and within DEFRA. The Nano Centre will call on The REACH Centre who has expertise and knowledge in managing the regulation process for bulk chemicals under the REACH regulation.
The development of new test procedures will demand a multi-disciplinary approach and call for the combined expertise of environmental scientists, toxicologists and materials scientists. Lancaster University has a world-leading Environment Centre that houses just such a community, supported by state of the art equipment, which allows integrated studies of terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric systems. The Centre has close links with commercial organizations, especially in the NW, and has been an established provider of environmental testing and expertise for many years. Within the Lancaster Environment Centre is the Centre for Chemicals Management which addresses all aspects of chemical fate, behaviour and effects. It supports the development of new chemicals that are fit for purpose without having an adverse impact on human health or the environment.
The Nano Centre aims to provide a facility whereby commercialization of products may continue with assurance that environmental and regulatory compliance responsibilities have been sufficiently met to current standards.
