DEBATE: Can product stewardship replace regulation? Case nanomaterials Presentation: Roger Drew, Toxicologist, ToxConsult Ltd, Australia

1. Debate: "Can product stewardship
replace regulation? Case nanomaterials"
Moderator: Roger Drew, Toxicology Consultant, Australia.
Debaters:
David Azoulay, Managing Attorney, CIEL, Switzerland.
David Warheit, Technical Fellow − Toxicology and Risk Assessment,
The Chemours Company, US.
Helsinki Chemicals Forum June 15th 2018

2. 2
Nanomaterials (NMs) – here, there and every where.
Abound in human environment:
• In nature.
• Food.
• Consumer products.
• Therapeutics and diagnostics.
• Industrial processes.
• Day to day articles.

3. 3

4. 4
Nanomaterials (NMs) – here, there and every where.
Potentially as diverse as chemicals with
similar challenges for safety management
Concern is with manufactured NMs.
- Each with unique properties (??).
- Very few tested.
- How safe?
- What’s the exposure?
- What’s the risk?

5. 5
- Chemical regulation has evolved over the last 50+ years.
- Predilection towards risk and rule based regulation.
- Amount of information required to assess risk tends to be
based on the amount of chemical produced/marketed.
- Chemical product stewardship = Responsible Care ®
- Evolved over 30+ years to build trust and confidence.
- A set of Core Principles practiced in 68 global economies.
- Has considerably decreased injuries and incidents.
In these paradigms can “chemical”
be replaced by “nanomaterial” ?

6. Questions from the forum organiser:
• Is chemical legislation robust enough for NM’s?
• What’s the role of industry product stewardship?
• How can companies show due diligence?
6
• Can workers and consumers [researchers] have
confidence in safe use of NM, or should there be
explicit testing requirements?

7. 7
With respect to understanding hazards and safe use,
what are the challenges/benefits with product
stewardship or regulation for NM’s?
David Azoulay: What detracts from product stewardship but
is attractive about regulation?
David Warheit: What are the benefits of product stewardship
and the issues with regulation?