Developing OECD Test Guidelines for Regulatory Testing of Nanomaterials to ensure mutual acceptance of test data

The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) provides a global forum for discussion of nano-safety issues. Together with the OECD Test Guidelines Programme (TGP) the WPMN explores the need for adaptation of some of the existing OECD Test Guidelines (TGs) and Guidance Documents (GDs) to specifically address NM issues as well as developing new TGs addressing nanospecific issues. This paper provides an overview of progress in the OECD TGP and WPMN regarding the development of TGs for nanomaterials addressing Physical Chemical Properties, Effects on Biotic Systems, Environmental Fate and Behaviour, and Health Effects. Information on supporting initiatives is also included. Three TGs specifically addressing manufactured nanomaterials hazards have been adopted: the new TG318 "Dispersion Stability of Nanomaterials in Simulated Environmental Media", and two adapted existing ones, TG412 and TG413 on Subacute Inhalation Toxicity: 28-Day Study / 90-day Study. The associated GD on Inhalation Toxicity Testing (GD 39) has also been revised. Adaptation of six existing TGs is on-going in the TGP and four new TGs are developed in the WPMN. Furthermore, as TGs are accompanied by templates for data collection, an outline of recently developed OECD harmonised templates with particular relevance for NM is also included.JRC.F.2-Consumer Products Safet