Deputy Executive Director of NANOTEC attended the 22nd Meeting of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) and the International NanoHarmony & NANOMET Workshop on nano-related OECD TG Development

attended the 22nd Meeting of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) and the International NanoHarmony & NANOMET Workshop on nano-related OECD Test Guideline Development at OECD Conference Centre, Paris. The events were organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) during 27–30 June 2022.

The WPMN has been working on the development of internationally coordinated methods and strategies to identify and manage the potential risks of nanomaterials to human health and the environment since 2006. The aim of WPMN is the international dialogue and the cooperation on health and environmental policies relating to manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) and other novel materials.

In the 22nd Meeting of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), attendees are invited to submit the Tour de Table report to provide updates on their respective national development on nanotechnologies.

Dr. Pavadee presented the status of nanotechnology in Thailand. She mentioned that NANOTEC and the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) have worked closely on many projects focusing on the guidelines development for industrial workers on nanotechnology, Nanosafety checklist for DIW applications development and Nanosafety Development for Industry Network. In addition, NANOTEC acting as a Standards Developing Organization (SDO), has collaborated with the Thailand Industrial Standard Institute (TISI) to develop new Thailand National Standards Guidelines.

On 29 June 2022, Dr. Pavadee was invited to give a presentation on “Regulation and Use of OECD TGs in Thailand” at the International NanoHarmony & NANOMET Workshop where the participants discussed the NanoHarmony project, which was funded by Horizon 2020. This collaborative project aims to support the development of Test Guidelines and Guidance Documents for eight endpoints where nanomaterial-adapted test methods have been identified as a regulatory priority.  NanoHarmony is responsible for coordinating the collection and use of available data and information to support the finalization of the test method development and to organize a sustainable network for the needed exchange, also for future regulatory development needs.

The aim of the 1st International NanoHarmony & NANOMET Workshop on nano-related OECD Test Guideline Development is to facilitate and improve the development process of TGs from the perspective of the developers, users, and the harmonization body. NANOMET supports OECD to identify and develop standardized methods for nanomaterials.

Participants in the event discussed the challenges and best practice approaches for the development of TGs. There was a special focus on the use of TGs in regulation from an international point of view. Participants was informed about the different steps of the TG development process, potential process improvements, and ongoing TG developments for nanomaterials. There were open discussions for obtain input from stakeholders on the OECD process and to gather input on current OECD projects towards the development of TGs and guidance documents.