The European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) has released its second interim evaluation report, assessing its effectiveness and value to stakeholders. Conducted by WSP and commissioned by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the report evaluates EUON's operations and suggests improvements. The evaluation, based on surveys and interviews, highlights EUON's achievements and areas needing enhancement, particularly in communication and market information.
Evaluation Findings and Stakeholder Feedback
The report, published on 4 December 2024, provides insights into EUON's performance since its first evaluation in 2019. Stakeholders, including industry associations, academia, and NGOs, were surveyed to gauge EUON's impact. The findings indicate that while EUON is a valuable resource for safety information, stakeholders desire more comprehensive and up-to-date data on nanomaterial markets.
Stakeholder Insights
Industry associations expressed concerns about EUON's focus on safety, suggesting it might negatively impact market trust. They recommended expanding content to include benefits and applications of nanomaterials. Additionally, stakeholders highlighted the need for more frequent updates and better integration with REACH data to enhance reliability and relevance.
Recommendations for Improvement
The report outlines several recommendations to enhance EUON's utility and reach. Key suggestions include improving marketing strategies to increase public awareness, incorporating more market data, and ensuring coherence with emerging EU regulations. Stakeholders also advocated for maintaining EUON's current features in any future integration into a common data platform.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, the report suggests that EUON could benefit from collaborations with initiatives like the NanoSafety Cluster and OECD. Such partnerships could enhance data sharing and consistency, addressing stakeholder concerns about coherence and regulatory compliance.
Overall, the evaluation underscores EUON's role in providing reliable information on nanomaterials, while highlighting the need for strategic enhancements to meet evolving stakeholder needs.
