September 2025 Overview: Key Standards in Natural Sciences

Looking back at September 2025, the landscape of standards for the Natural Sciences sector was notably enriched with the release of four significant standards. This month’s standards publications covered critical advances in nanotechnology—particularly in graphene characterization—as well as microbiological methods essential for food safety. Whether you’re an engineer, compliance officer, researcher, or quality manager, understanding these recent developments is key to staying aligned with current and emerging best practices. This overview distills the month’s publications, identifying priority areas, regulatory direction, and strategic implementation considerations.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

September 2025 saw a balanced mix of standards targeting both leading-edge nanomanufacturing technologies and foundational food safety protocols. Two complementary strands emerge from this set of publications:

• Nanotechnologies and graphene characterization: Two standards address robust measurement protocols for graphene-related materials, underscoring the increasing industrial and research relevance of 2D nanomaterials.
• Food microbiology and public health: The remaining two standards are dedicated to the detection and full characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), reflecting ongoing efforts to mitigate foodborne risks.

Compared to prior months, this period provided a well-rounded focus—bridging innovation in materials science with the basic assurance of public health and safety. The synergy between sectors suggests that standardization is keeping pace with both disruptive technological change and persistent safety needs.

Standards Published This Month

IEC TS 62607-6-28:2025 – Number of Layers for Graphene Films on a Substrate: Raman Spectroscopy

Nanomanufacturing – Key control characteristics – Part 6-28: Graphene-related products – Number of layers for graphene films on a substrate: Raman spectroscopy

This technical specification introduces two standardized methods for determining the number of layers in graphene films using Raman spectroscopy. Method A analyzes the lineshape of the 2D-peak in the Raman spectrum (optimized for up to four layers), whereas Method B utilizes the intensity of the Raman signal from the underlying silicon substrate to identify up to ten layers. Crucially, combining these methods allows for more precise and extended detection of both number of layers and stacking configuration (AB and ABC stacking).

Key requirements and specifications:

• Intended for graphene layers produced via mechanical exfoliation, but also applicable to high-quality films made by chemical vapor deposition.
• Method A is recommended for up to 4 layers (AB stacking), while Method B extends detection capability up to 10 layers (requires oxidized silicon substrates).
• Sample lateral size must be at least 2 µm.
• The standard provides reporting formats and annexes for method comparison and data calculation.

Impacted sectors: Nanomanufacturing facilities, R&D labs, and quality assurance in electronics and advanced composites.

Broader regulatory landscape: Complements the IEC 62607 series, filling a gap for fast, reproducible layer quantification, which is critical for product performance and regulatory compliance in nano-enabled technologies.

Key highlights:

• Dual-method approach enhances measurement accuracy and range.
• Addresses stacking variations (AB, ABC) crucial for electronics applications.
• Includes clear procedures for calibration, measurement, and reporting.

Access the full standard:View IEC TS 62607-6-28:2025 on iTeh Standards

prEN ISO 13136-2 – Characterization of STEC Isolates in the Food Chain

Microbiology of the food chain – Detection, isolation and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) – Part 2: Horizontal method for the characterization of STEC isolates (ISO/DIS 13136-2:2024)

This standard defines the procedures for characterizing pure cultures of STEC strains from any source, focusing on advanced subtyping and virulence marker identification. The protocol envisions modular implementation, meeting both routine and regulatory requirements.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Enables subtyping of Stx-coding genes (stx1 and stx2, including subtypes).
• Detects key virulence markers—eae and aggR genes.
• Identifies genes for the main serogroups impacting public health (O157, O26, O111, O103, O145, O121, O45).
• Modules can be applied independently based on operational needs; whole genome sequencing (WGS) is permitted if verified per ISO 16140-2.

Impacted sectors: Food producers, testing laboratories, regulatory bodies, and supply chain quality managers.

Regulatory context: Builds on and replaces earlier technical specifications, reflecting the shift toward a risk-based, modular approach in food safety microbiology. Aligned with evolving epidemiological insight and flexible enough for varying investigative or surveillance purposes.

Key highlights:

• Modular system meets both regulatory and stakeholder-driven requirements.
• Supports public health initiatives by targeting high-risk serogroups and virulence factors.
• Validates application of WGS for advanced characterization.

Access the full standard:View prEN ISO 13136-2 on iTeh Standards

prEN ISO 13136-1 – Detection and Isolation of STEC in Food and Feed

Microbiology of the food chain – Detection, isolation and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) – Part 1: Horizontal method for the detection and isolation of STEC (ISO/DIS 13136-1:2024)

As the foundational document for food chain microbiology, this standard focuses on the initial detection and isolation of STEC from a wide range of sources. It details enrichment, screening by real-time PCR for key virulence genes (stx1, stx2), and confirms isolation procedures for STEC strains.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Applicable to food (for human consumption), animal feed, and environmental samples in food/feed production and handling environments.
• Involves microbial enrichment, nucleic acid extraction, and direct detection of stx genes.
• Drives attempted isolation of STEC when screening is positive; confirms presence in isolated colonies.
• Structured to facilitate a seamless hand-off to further characterization (covered in Part 2).

Impacted sectors: Food producers, animal feed operations, agricultural supply chains, and environmental quality laboratories.

Broader regulatory landscape: Represents a significant update from earlier technical specifications, featuring harmonized enrichment, nucleic acid extraction, and PCR protocols for heightened detection confidence.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive scope—including environmental and primary production samples.
• Advanced real-time PCR techniques for increased sensitivity and specificity.
• Lay the groundwork for improved traceback and contamination response.

Access the full standard:View prEN ISO 13136-1 on iTeh Standards

CEN ISO/TS 23359:2025 – Chemical Characterization of Graphene-related 2D Materials

Nanotechnologies – Chemical characterization of graphene-related two-dimensional materials from powders and liquid dispersions (ISO/TS 23359:2025)

This technical specification addresses the increasing industrialization and commercialization of graphene-related two-dimensional materials (GR2Ms), by standardizing four major chemical analysis methods: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Key requirements and specifications:

• Defines protocols for measuring elemental composition, oxygen-to-carbon ratio, trace metal impurities, weight percent of species, and functional group content in GR2Ms.
• Site- and process-independent: covers powders and dispersions, suitable for diverse production and supply chain use cases.
• Details sample prep, instrument calibration, data analysis, and reporting.
• Encompasses major graphene variants: reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, functionalized forms, etc.

Impacted sectors: Nanomaterial suppliers, advanced manufacturing, composite material developers, quality control labs, and research institutes.

Broader regulatory landscape: Underpins quality assurance and specification compliance for emerging graphene applications, supporting transnational supply chain reliability and end-user confidence.

Key highlights:

• Multi-method toolkit gives flexibility for quality checks and R&D.
• Covers both bulk and surface chemistry, trace metals, and compositional analysis.
• Supports global harmonization of characterization practices, vital for scaling nanomaterial deployment.

Access the full standard:View CEN ISO/TS 23359:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

The September 2025 standards collectively highlight three main industry trends:

• Continued Expansion of Nanotechnology Standards: Both graphene-focused standards demonstrate intensive international activity to define reliable, comparable protocols for nanomaterial characterization. Their harmonized and multi-method approaches reflect market requirements for high consistency and performance with minimal ambiguity.
• Risk-based Food Microbiology: With STEC still a leading health concern, the two-pronged approach (detection and in-depth strain characterization) in microbiological standards supports targeted risk mitigation, epidemiological tracking, and regulatory alignment.
• Modular and Integrative Approaches: Both domains emphasize modular, flexible application of techniques—enabling adaptation to differing operational, regulatory, and investigative contexts. This signals a shift toward standardization strategies that facilitate both compliance and innovation.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

Industry professionals should consider the following best practices to ensure effective alignment with these standards:

• Establish or update protocols and training around the specified measurement or microbiological techniques. In the case of graphene, invest in relevant spectroscopy and analytical equipment, and ensure personnel are trained for dual-method or multi-technique deployment.
• Integrate modular application: In food safety testing, align your detection/isolation (Part 1) and characterization (Part 2) workflows, ensuring traceability and rapid response in case of contamination.
• Check supply chains: For both nanomaterials and food, ensure suppliers and partners are referencing these standards. Documentation and certificate of analysis should reflect compliance.
• Implementation timelines: Pay special attention to effective adoption windows, which may coincide with regulatory updates or industry certification cycles. Early adoption can provide competitive and compliance advantages.
• Resources: Leverage guidance annexes and reporting templates included in the standards. Engage with accredited external labs if in-house capabilities are not yet established.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

September 2025 represented a strategic inflection point for stakeholders in the Natural Sciences sector. The newly published standards provide robust frameworks for both groundbreaking materials characterization and foundational food safety assurance. Nanotechnology professionals are empowered with reproducible, flexible protocols for graphene-related materials—an essential step in broad commercialization. Food sector experts gain modular, advanced tools for STEC detection and characterization, safeguarding the supply chain and public health.

Recommendations:

• For nanotech labs and manufacturers: Prioritize implementation of dual-method graphene characterization protocols. Evaluate and upgrade analytical instrumentation as needed.
• For food producers and labs: Harmonize detection (Part 1) and characterization (Part 2) workflows, adopting modularity for both rapid screening and detailed investigations.
• For compliance officers and quality managers: Promote supplier and partner adherence and maintain up-to-date procedure documentation aligned with these standards.

Staying informed and compliant with these standards will not only support regulatory readiness but also enhance operational performance and market reputation. Explore each standard in detail via the provided links to ensure your practices remain at the forefront of innovation and safety in the Natural Sciences sector.