Federal Department of the Environment,
Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
Further inclusion of
nanotechnology and manufactured
nanomaterials in SAICM
UNITAR/IOMC workshop on nanotechnology and manufactured
nanomaterials, Asia & Pacific Region, China, Beijing, 09.06, 2011
Outline
1. SAICM a possible governance structure for
addressing nanotechnologie and manufactrued
nanomaterials
2. The Swiss proposal to include nano in the
SAICM Global Plan of Action (GPA)
3. Conclusions
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
2
SAICM a possible governance structure
for nano
• Nano causes a challenge for all countries
• It is an issue of global concern
• Enhanced cooperation and coordination is needed to
address potential effects of nano - at all levels
>> There is a need for governance structure for nano
>> What are the possible governance structure to
address nano at global level?
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
3
SAICM a possible governance
structure for nano
• Potential of existing instruments in the
international chemicals and waste
management regime to address nano in the
near future
• Candidates: Stockholm, Rotterdam or Basel
Convention, SAICM
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
4
SAICM a possible governance
structure for nano
• Stockholm Convention – very difficult
Most nanomaterials on the market today are inorganic, current
knowledge gap would prevent any nanomaterials to be listed
before several years
• Rotterdam Konvention – difficult
Difficult to add newly substances (backward rather than forward
looking), case by case basis, carbo nano tubes - chances exist
that 2 countries will regulate this in long term
• Basel Convention – difficult
Development of nano-waste guidelines; Categorisation of
hazardous and non hazardous waste?; not enough knowledge
available for safe disposal
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
5
Inclusion of nano in the GPA
SAICM – a possible option:
• SAICM is a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach
• ICCM-2 identified nanotechnology and manufactured
nanomaterials as a new emerging policy issue
• ICCM resolution on nanotechnologies and manufactured
nanomaterials (II/4; E)
• Africa and GRULAC adopted a regional resolutions on nano
• The Strategic Approach is able to further address nano by
including it in the SAICM Global Plan of Action
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
6
Inclusion of nano in the GPA
• The Global Plan of Action is a working tool structured in
working areas and associated activities
• Thus the GPA offers a tool that countries can use if they
want to undertake activities voluntarily in order to pursue
the objectives of SAICM
• Inclusion of nano in the GPA is already on the ICCM-3
agenda
• There is a procedure for adding new activities to the GPA
• This procedure is followed by Switzerland even it is not
required for the nano issue
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
7
Swiss Proposal for the Inclusion of
nano in the GPA
Switzerland submitted in April 2011 a proposal to
complement the GPA with
• the creation of a new work area nanotechnologies and
manufactured nanomaterials and
• associated activities in relation to the environmental
sound management of nanotechnologies and
manufactured nanomaterials
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
8
Swiss Proposal for the Inclusion of
nano in the GPA
The new work area includes 16 activities to:
• Encourage the generation and sharing of hazard and
risk data in relation to nanomaterials and
nanotechnologies;
• Support technical, legal and institutional information
sharing and capacity building for the management
of nanomaterials;
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
9
Swiss Proposal for inclusion of nano
in the GPA
The new work area includes 16 activities to:
• Integrate the management of nanomaterials in
ongoing and projected chemical management
programs;
• Support the development of adequate risk
management tools and mechanisms, including
information schemes such as certification systems
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
10
Swiss proposal for inclusion of nano
in the GPA
Consultation process on this proposal has started
• It takes place through the regional focal points and all
other stakeholders of SAICM
• Three regional meeting discussed it already (Africa,
GRULAC, CEE)
• It is on the agenda of the Asia & Pacific regional nano
workshop and SAICM meeting
>>This regional workshop in Beijing offers an
opportunity to discuss and comment the Swiss
proposal and thus the further inclusion of nano in
SAICM
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
11
Swiss proposal for inclusion of nano
in the GPA
Results of this consultation process up to now:
•
•
•
•
Support from the African and LAC region for the
proposal
Comments from the CEE region
Mexico, USA and Trinidad & Tobago handed in
comments
A revised version of the proposal will be presented at
the OEWG for further discussion and at ICCM-3 for
possible adoption
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
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Conclusion
• Nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials
can be a risk for human health and environment
• Cooperative action is needed to address nano - at
all levels
• SAICM offers a good international governance
structure to start addressing nano
• Further inclusion of nano in SAICM by
complementing the Global Plan of Action
• The OEWG and the ICCM 3 offer the platform for
discussing and realizing this inclusion
Further inclusion of nano in SAICM |
Gabi Eigenmann, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland
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