Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is an experimental process that manipulates matter at the "nanoscale" (down to 1/100,000 the width of human hair) to create new products and materials. The nanoparticles in these products are so small, they can leach through our skin and cell and tissue membranes and spread through the environment in unpredictable ways.
Synthetic Biology is the design and construction of new biological parts, devices and systems that do not exist in the natural world and the redesign of existing biological systems to perform specific tasks.
In January, European Union agencies published three documents concerning government oversight of nanotechnology and new genetic engineering techniques. Together, the documents put in doubt the scientific capacity and political will of the European Commission to provide any effective oversight of the consumer, agricultural and industrial products derived from these emerging technologies. Instead, it appears that the Commission will allow product developers, including university scientist/entrepreneurs, to be the judge of whether their products pose unacceptable and, indeed, perhaps
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(Washington, DC)—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to regulate novel nanomaterial pesticides as a result of a lawsuit filed by Center for Food Safety (CFS) in December. In 2008, a coalition of nonprofits led by CFS filed a 116-page legal petition, requesting, among other things, that EPA recognize the growing class of nano-silver consumer products and their risks and regulate them as new pesticides.
Read moreCoalition of NGOs Releases Nanotech Recommendation Reflecting Concern about Use of Nanotech in Foods
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to rising concern about manufacturers using unregulated nanomaterials in food, a coalition of advocacy groups in the U.S. and abroad has released a policy recommendation for companies in food-related industries to assist them in avoiding or reducing the risks from nanomaterials in food products and packaging.
The recommendation requests that companies: adopt a detailed public policy explaining their use of nanomaterials, if any; publish a safety analysis for any nanomaterials being used.
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At their October 2010 meeting, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) unanimously approved a guidance document recommending that "Engineered Nanomaterials be prohibited from certified organic products as expeditiously as possible.
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