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EFSA seeks information on nanotechnologies in food and feed
Published: Wednesday 23 January 2008
In June 2007, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) received a request from the European Commission to provide an initial scientific opinion on (a) the nature and relative magnitude of hazards associated with the applications of nanotechnologies, (b) the appropriateness of current risk assessment methods in relation to materials produced with and processes based on nanotechnologies, and (c) the risks arising from nanoscience and nanotechnologies on food and feed safety and the environment.
EFSA responded to the request with two letter: in July 2007, EFSA confirmed that it had been monitoring for some time already the developments in the area of nanotechnology, and in October 2007, EFSA stated that it was ‘not possible to conduct a generic risk assessment related to materials and processes based on nanosciences and nanotechnologies’ and that it was ‘not feasible to scientifically assess the relative magnitude of the hazards associated with the applications of nanosciences and nanotechnologies’; consequently, EFSA proposed changes to the Terms of Reference of the original EC request.
The request is handled by the EFSA Scientific Committee who in November 2007 appointed an expert working group to prepare a draft opinion.
In support of the expert working group, EFSA issued a call for scientific contributions from Third Parties, which could be useful for the preparation of the opinion. According to the call website, ‘EFSA would appreciate receiving data covering for example the following issues:
- Data on the safety of nanomaterials used in food and feed
- Food and feed applications and products containing or consisting of nanomaterials or produced by nanotechnology
- Methods, procedures and performance criteria used to analyse nanomaterials in food and feed
- Use patterns and exposure to humans and environment.
- Risk assessments performed on nanomaterials used in food and feed
- Toxicological data on nanomaterials used in food and feed
- Environmental studies performed on nanotechnologies and nanomaterials used in food and feed.’
Follow these links for more information on the call, to download the call, or to obtain more information on the EC’s request.