FSA seeks comments on nanotechnologies
Wednesday 24 May 2006
The Agency is inviting comments on a draft report on the use of nanotechnologies in food manufacturing.
The report presents the findings of a review by the FSA, which looked at the use of nanotechnologies and the potential presence of nanomaterials in food, to identify potential gaps in regulation or risk assessment.
Nanotechnology is a broad term that encompasses the manufacture and use of materials and structures at the nanometre scale. A nanometre is one millionth of a millimetre.
There are lots of different potential uses for nanotechnologies, not just in relation to food manufacturing. Nanomaterials have been defined by the Royal Society as materials that have at least one dimension less than 100 nanometres (nm). This definition includes very thin films, tubes and wire-like structures, as well as nanoparticles, which are less than 100nm in all dimensions.
Recent technological advances mean that there is now the potential to add manufactured nanoparticles to food. These could be finely divided forms of existing ingredients, or completely new chemical structures.
The Agency is not aware of any examples of manufactured nanoparticles or other nanomaterials being used in food currently sold in the UK.
The Agency's review assesses whether existing regulations are appropriate to protect people and the environment from any risks associated with the use of these technologies. Other Government departments are undertaking similar reviews and it is intended that these will be part of an overall review of the regulatory gaps, which is being co-ordinated by the Office of Science and Innovation, formerly the Office of Science and Technology.
The draft report of the Agency's review is being issued for public consultation before the document is finalised. The deadline for responses is 14 July 2006.