Nano-tech news
Antaria finally admits its sunscreen ingredient is a nanomaterial
Nearly six months after Friends of the Earth lodged an ACCC complaint against Antaria for misleadingly marketing the product as 'non-nano', the company has finally admitted that its ZinClear IM sunscreen ingredient is a nanomaterial. The ACCC is due to make public its findings regarding the complaint shortly.
Antaria made public the fact its sunscreen ingredient was a nanomaterial in an ASX announcement just before Christmas. Previously Antaria had strenuously denied that its product was a nanomaterial both to the media, the ASX and in its written correspondence with Friends of the Earth. A number of sunscreen brands used Antaria's ZinClear IM product in some of their products and had repeated its non-nano claims. Affected brands include Invisible Zinc, Cancer Council, Natural Instinct, ChemMart, Terry White Chemists, Pharmacy Choice, WotNot, Graham's Sunclear, and Woolworths Select.
In February last year, Antaria confirmed in writing the patent that was the basis of their ZinClear IM product. Friends of the Earth commissioned a report from the National Measurement Institute, looking at this patent, which concluded Zinclear IM is a nanomaterial according to key definitions which have existed since 2010. Despite this, Antaria has been marketing the product as 'non-nano'.
Antaria's behaviour is completely unacceptable and we are hoping for a strong ruling from the ACCC to send a clear message to industry that companies can't get away with misleading conduct like this.
This scandal clearly demonstrates the need for nano-ingredients in sunscreen to be labelled. If the Government had made the testing and labelling of nano-ingredients compulsory for companies we would never be in this mess. From this year, European regulators are requiring sunscreen companies to produce safety data and label nano-ingredients in sunscreens. Australians deserve the same protection as Europeans.
More information: nano.archive.foe.org.au
Union raises nanotech concerns
Union leader Paul Howes has likened nanotechnology to asbestos and called for more research to ease fears that the growing use of nanoparticles could endanger manufacturing workers.
''I don't want to make the mistake that my predecessors made by not worrying about asbestos,'' said the Australian Workers Union national secretary in a recent interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mr Howes said he was worried that nanotechnology could be used to carry carcinogenic particles and he believed it needed more regulation and research.
Big thanks to nano-campaigners
It's been a sad start to the year for FoE's nanotech campaign with both Georgia Miller and Gregory Crocetti moving on to pursue exciting new projects.
Georgia founded the FoE Australia Nanotechnology Project six years ago and established FoE Australia as an important international voice on nanotechnology issues. She has worked tirelessly to build and support the campaign and she will be sorely missed. Georgia recently commenced a PhD and has decided to step down from her role in the collective to focus on her studies.
Gregory has been a valued member of the nano team since 2011 and is leaving to write an art-science book on microbial symbiosis for kids which we are all looking forward to reading! Fortunately Gregory isn't leaving the Nano collective altogether so we'll still be able to able to draw on his incredible knowledge and creative ideas.