NETWORK OF NANOMETROLOGY & NANOSAFETY LABS IN ASEAN

Nanotechnology has introduced use of nanomaterials in industrial and consumer products. In view of its unique nature of size that is bigger than water molecule but smaller than bacteria raises safety concerns due to its capability to penetrate and travel within the human body like viruses. There are challenges in performing safety studies on nanomaterials. It is essential to assure when safety studies are perform, the materials remains at its nano-characteristics. As such NanoMetrology becomes important before the conduct of NanoSafety or NanoPerformance studies. The NanoMetrology studies require the use of high specification and expensive equipment. Hence, an effort has been initiated to network accredited laboratories within the ASEAN member states for a cost-effective utilization and offering of testing services to industrial customer regionally and internationally by complying with OECD-GLP or ISO/IEC 17025 quality assurance standards. Subsequently allowing the NanoSafety and NanoPerformance testings to be undertaken by the other partner laboratories within the network. The presentation introduces to list of NanoMetrology and NanoSafety laboratories within ASEAN that have pioneered this networking initiatives.

OECD? OECD-TG? OECD-GLP? & OECD-MAD?

Often there is misunderstanding between the various acronyms that starts with the word OECD. Hence, in this slide presentation, I made an attempt to clarify the difference and connection between the acronym of OECD, OECD-TG, OECD-GLP and OECD-MAD. Hope the presentation helps you to distinguish these acronyms.