EFSA Begins Review of Nanotechnology

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) met the week of November 19, 2007, to begin reviewing the regulation and risk assessment of nanotechnology. The European Commission (EC) issued a mandate for a complete evaluation by March 31, 2008, but EFSA responded that, because of the range of differing properties and safety profiles, it will not be able to complete its review by this deadline. EFSA instead proposed to issue an initial scientific opinion by Summer 2008. EFSA intends to create a working group of 10 to 15 scientific experts. The Scientific Committee held its first discussion on the EFSA working strategy on November 19-20, 2007.