Nanotechnology The terminology challenge

by Clive Willis, Convenor, ISO/TC 229/WG 1

Main Focus

Selectively applied legal standards can be used as barriers to bringing a product to market, as pointed out by modern biotechnology.

This impairs freedom of action not only for industries directly concerned: the insurance industry, too, is facing a culture of exploding expectations and a legal framework which makes it increasingly difficult to carry out risk transfer and management, according to business axioms like profitability and the freedom of contract.

Where no risk is allowed, the notion of insurability is challenged, for society can only bear those risks that insurers can indemnify with benefits in monetary form. But a risk that according to general consensus cannot be allowed to happen also cannot have a price tag – and cannot be insurable.

Outlook

Sustainably introducing nanotechnology requires uniform, risk-appropriate assessment criteria that consider nanomaterials’ special properties. Such guidelines would not only reduce uncertainty, but also create a favourable climate for investment.

The challenge is to highlight those criteria that identify the changes taking place in the risk profiles of the materials – and of business sectors – as production methods shift to nanotechnology.

If these challenges are met, both public and private researchers will be able to assess the up and down sides of nanotechnology with scientifically proven, comparable criteria; and authorities and insurers, and other stakeholders interested in controlling risk, will be able to prepare themselves to cope with possible future losses.

A new technology always presents opportunities and threats; society needs to decide whether the benefits outweigh the potential disadvantages. This is not always easy in a pluralistic society, and one that calls for risk expertise, respect, tolerance and a sense of proportion.

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