Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

The Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday (494KB PDF) that it will be holding a webinar on November 28, 2012, to discuss the Nanotechnology Work Plan released under the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC).

WHAT: RCC Nanotechnology Work Plan Webinar
WHEN: November 28, 2012, 1:00 PM EST - 3:00 PM EST
To attend, RSVP to rccnano@epa.gov no later than October 25, 2012.

The RCC Nanotechnology Work Plan contains concrete objectives, deliverables and milestones for tangible progress within the RCC framework. It was developed through a bilateral U.S.-Canada working group, following consultations in Washington, D.C., on January 30th and 31st, 2012.An important element of the RCC Nanotechnology Work Plan is the sharing of best practices for assessing and managing potential risks from industrial nanomaterials. As part of this work, the United States and Canada will carry out a pilot project examining American and Canadian risk assessment and risk management practices and approaches as they relate to case studies of specific nanomaterials. A number of nanomaterial case studies are currently being considered, and the two countries welcome suggestions from stakeholders. To propose a nanomaterial for consideration, please provide the following information by email to rccnano@epa.gov no later than October 25, 2012:

• Chemical name of the nanomaterial;
• Whether the nanomaterial has been notified to/reviewed by either jurisdiction;
• Commercial applications of the nanomaterial;
• Information on exposure and environmental fate of the nanomaterial;
• A complete list of available test data on the nanomaterial and related analogs, including environmental and human toxicity studies; and
• Acknowledgment that, for the purposes of this exercise, both the U.S. and Canada will be able to exchange information freely, including confidential business information (CBI).

The webinar will also provide interested stakeholders with additional background information, as well as updates on ongoing activities under the work plan. Interested stakeholders must confirm their attendance to rccnano@epa.gov no later than October 25, 2012.

The Nanotechnology Work Plan is currently available at Trade.gov/RCC (38KB PDF).