As an agency of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, RIVM) is a governmental research and knowledge institute providing policy support to the Dutch government. RIVM performs tasks to safeguard and promote public health and environmental quality in the Netherlands. In its role as trusted advisor, RIVM provides the government with impartial advice on infectious diseases, vaccination programmes, population screening, life style, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, environment, sustainability, safety and security. The main tasks of RIVM are: 1) to conduct research; 2) to provide policy advice and recommendations; 3) to direct and implement prevention and control response (e.g. national coordination of health and environmental monitoring programmes); 4) to coordinate intervention programs; 5) to provide information to professionals and the general public. Our experts participate in various international networks and are members of many international scientific committees and experts panels of the EU. RIVM also carries out activities for other international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and OECD. RIVM s commissioning bodies consist of ministries (the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation) and various public services such as the inspectorates. The scientific quality of RIVM work is monitored by the Scientific Advisory Board. The independent position of RIVM is set down in statutes. Currently, RIVM has about 1,500 employees. RIVM has a working group on nanotechnology (WG-nano), consisting of approximately 15 senior experts each covering a specific topic in relation to nanotechnology. This WG safeguards an integrated approach of issues to be dealt with regarding safety of MNMs. RIVM contributes in multiple ways to the research into potential risks of nano-particles to human health and the environment (http://www.rivm.nl/en/Topics/N/Nanotechnology). Relevant for caLIBRAte is the extensive experience in risk assessment on MNMs, in a broad variety of EU-projects, assignments of Dutch Ministries, assignments of the European Commission (Enterprise, Environment, SANCO) and Dutch inspectorates. RIVM represents the Netherlands in the OECD Working Party Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN), provides scientific input for the Dutch Competent Authorities under REACH, including MNMs. RIVM is assigned as the coordination agency for all exposure, effect and risk assessment issues related to manufacturing, processing, and applying MNMs in the Netherlands. RIVM coordinates Risk Analysis and Technology Assessment (RATA) activities in the national nanotechnology development programme NanoNextNL, in which RATA activities need to become an integrated part of innovation. RIVM has a long-standing and established expertise in integrated risk assessment in the health, environment, medical applications, food and non-food sectors, also for MNMs, and is strongly involved in discussions about the need for new research, regulation and standards in nanotechnology.
In caLIBRAte, RIVM will lead Work Package 5 and will participate in WP2, WP3, WP6, WP7, WP8, WP9 and the management WP10.