Community, Industry and Government Advisory Groups

Information on NICNAS's advisory groups is detailed in NICNAS's annual reports.

 

For 2010-11 this can be found at:

• NICNAS Annual Report 2010-2011 Appendix 07.

Community Engagement Forum (CEF)

On 2 December 2011, the 27th meeting for the NICNAS Community Engagement Forum (CEF) was held in Sydney. Members were updated on NICNAS activities related to perfluorinated chemicals. Members provided input into the CEF Workplan 2011-12 and agreed on topics for the Community Bulletin. The next CEF meeting will be held on 30 March 2012.

 

On 19 August 2011, the 26th meeting for the NICNAS Community Engagement Forum (CEF) was held in Canberra. Preceding the meeting, members attended the Joint CEF/NICNAS Industry Government Consultative Committee meeting (18 August 2011) where members discussed and provided input for the preparation of the draft NICNAS Strategic Plan 2012-14. Members then met with the Hon Catherine King MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing. At CEF 26 members provided input into the CEF Workplan 2011-12 and agreed on topics for the next Community Engagement Bulletin. The next CEF meeting will be held on 2 December 2011.

 

Industry Government Consultative Committee (IGCC)

On 22 November 2011, the 41st meeting of the NICNAS Industry Government Consultative Committee (IGCC) was held in Sydney. In line with the NICNAS planning cycle the IGCC 41 meeting focussed on preparing the NICNAS Strategic Plan 2012-14 and reviewing the 2011-12 Quarter 1 performance updates and financial position. The meeting was also briefed by the DoHA Chemicals and Regulatory Reform Taskforce on the Health/Finance Better Regulation Ministerial Partnership review of NICNAS. The next IGCC meeting is scheduled for 14 March 2012 in Sydney.

 

On 18 August 2011, the 40th meeting of the NICNAS Industry Government Consultative Committee (IGCC) was held in Canberra. The meeting was preceded by a meeting with the Hon Catherine King MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing and followed by a workshop with the NICNAS Community Engagement Forum on the NICNAS Strategic Plan 2012-14. The IGCC 40 meeting focussed on an evaluation of progress against the 2010-11 Business Plan, as well as on the Business Plan and Budget for 2011-12. The next IGCC meeting will be held on 22 November 2011 in Sydney.

 

On 21 March 2011, the 39th meeting of the NICNAS Industry Government Consultative Committee (IGCC) was held in Sydney. The meeting, inline with the NICNAS planning cycle, focussed on 2011-12 priorities and budget. The committee also discussed the status of work on NICNAS reforms. The Department of Health and Ageing’s Market Research Unit presented outcomes from the NICNAS Stakeholder Survey they conducted online in August 2010. IGCC agreed to a working group to progress responses to the survey’s key findings (refer NICNAS Matters, December 2010). The next IGCC meeting will be held on 18 August 2011.

 

Nanotechnology Advisory Group (NAG)

The Nanotechnology Advisory Group (NAG) met in Sydney for its 8th meeting on 8 November 2011.

 

The major focus of the meeting was the systematic and phased approach to explore options for the appropriate regulation of nano-forms of existing chemicals (i.e. nanomaterials whose conventional counterparts are listed on the national inventory). Specific issues considered at this meeting include, criteria for identifying potential health and environmental concerns, mechanisms for maintaining knowledge of health and environmental effects of nanomaterials in Australian commerce, features of assessment product(s) suitable for nanomaterials and benchmarking Australia’s approach with comparable overseas regulatory authorities.

 

These issues form the “building blocks” of a planned discussion paper on options for the appropriate regulation of nano-forms of existing chemicals. It is anticipated that the discussion paper will be subject to public consultation in late 2012.

 

The meeting also noted NICNAS activities aimed at monitoring compliance with administrative amendments to the New Chemicals framework introduced in January this year and education and outreach activities undertaken throughout the year to support stakeholders in complying with these amendments.

 

The next meeting is planned for April 2012.

 

Cosmetic Advisory Group (CAG)

CAG met in Sydney for its 7th meeting on 7 December 2011.

 

These updates covered three matters:

• Progress on cosmetic transfer - NICNAS advised on a proposal to list 34 chemicals on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS) using a new legislated mechanism that came into force in 2011. NICNAS also advised that it was reviewing another 27 cosmetic chemicals for possible listing on the Inventory.
• Progress on implementing updated data required for UV filters in cosmetics - members provided comment on a draft technical guidance concerning updated data requirements under the new Schedule E for UV filters.
• As part of ongoing consideration of the need for a positive list that align with the requirements of the TGA list, the meeting considered current compliance of the cosmetic industry with the new Part G to the Cosmetic Guidelines, which implements a recommended list of UV filters and associated concentration cut-offs for use in cosmetic products applied to the skin.

The CAG committee also agreed to be extended for a final 12 months to provide advice on the final outstanding element of the reforms to the cosmetic-therapeutic interface, namely appropriate regulation of UV filters in cosmetic products with the function of protecting the skin from UV damage.

 

The next meeting of CAG will be held on 20 June 2012.