Completed projects

Various projects in which the federal government has actively participated have been successfully completed.

Action plan for synthetic nanomaterials

An action plan on the safe handling of nanomaterials was implemented in Switzerland between 2008 and 2019.

The action plan, launched by the Federal Council, recognised the growing importance of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in research, business and society. The action plan created a framework enabling new opportunities to be explored, sustainable applications to be developed and potential risks to already be investigated in the course of the innovation process to enable early measures to be taken to protect health and the environment.
Besides creating the scientific and methodological conditions, the action plan also involved communication activities and the promotion of public dialogue about the opportunities and risks.

Results of the action plan:

• Various events took place to foster dialogue with consumer and environmental organisations, businesses, academia and public authorities.
• The federal government’s website on nanotechnology – Infonano.ch – was set up.
• A number of guidance documents were published to help identify the possible risks posed by nanomaterials and communicate important safety information along the length of the production and delivery chain, such as the «Precautionary matrix for synthetic nanomaterials» and the «Safety Data Sheet (SDS): Guidelines for synthetic nanomaterials».
• Diverse nano-specific requirements were set out in Swiss law and adapted to reflect the regulations on nanomaterials applicable in the EU.
• New measurement and testing methods were developed for nanomaterials, particularly for characterising nanomaterials.

The action plan ran until the end of 2019. It created a framework that will allow pending work to be executed beyond the term of the action plan across various federal offices. Switzerland continues to actively support the revision of domestic and international guidance and guidelines for the testing and assessment of nanomaterials. It also cooperates internationally to develop new nano-specific measurement and testing methods in the relevant OECD working groups. This way the safe handling of nanomaterials in Switzerland will continue to be assured in the future.

National research programmes

Smart Materials – National Research Programme NRP 62:
As a cooperation programme between the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI), the ‘Smart Materials’ National Research Programme (NRP 62) aimed to promote the development of new smart materials and to transfer R&D projects with high application potential to the CTI. NRP 62 was launched in 2010 and was concluded in the spring of 2015.

Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials – National Research Programme NRP 64:
The research conducted as part of this programme delivered scientific insights to issue recommendations and appropriate measures for the manufacture, use and disposal of synthetic nanoparticles. This will allow society to benefit from the scientific progress in the field of synthetic nanomaterials and their applications, while protecting consumers and the environment. Work started on NRP 64 in December 2010 and was concluded in 2017.

EU research projects

Gov4Nano: This project facilitated and promoted dialogue on existing risk analysis methods in nanotechnology, such as risk assessment, risk management and risk communication, between all stakeholders, including scientists and researchers, industry, authorities and the public. It also supported the setting of priorities and the harmonisation of methods. As part of this project, the FOPH was responsible for the work package to review the applicability of OECD Test Guideline 442D on nanomaterials in relation to in vitro skin sensitisation. This work as part of the European Gov4Nano project led to the publication of a study report (No. 382) by the OECD in the Series of Testing and Assessment: "Study Report on Applicability of the key event-based TG 442D for in vitro skin sensitisation testing of nanomaterials".

NANoREG (Regulatory testing of nanomaterials): this project focused on issues of relevance to legislation. The FOEN, FOPH and SECO were involved in this project together with various Swiss research partners, who participated in the development of models for assessing exposure at the workplace (IST, Lausanne), as well as in the identification of methods for characterising nanomaterials (Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne) and the development of high throughput screening methods (EMPA laboratories). NANoREG was concluded in 2017.

ProSafe: As a continuation of the projects co-financed within the scope of NANoREG, Switzerland participated in the Horizon 2020 PROSAFE project, which ran until 2017 and focused on the development of a ‘safe by design’ methodology for nanomaterials.

Links

“Smart Materials” – National Research Programme NRP 62

National Research Programme NRP 64 – “Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials”

NANoREG-Ergebnisdatenbank (in Englisch)

ProSafe Results Repository | RIVM

Swiss Nanotech Report 2010

ARAMIS information system

Gov4Nano

Study Report No. 382 «Study Report on Applicability of the key event-based TG 442D for in vitro skin sensitisation testing of nanomaterials»

Further information

Last modification 25.03.2024