On July 4, 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its “Guidance on risk assessment of the application of nanoscience and nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain: Part 1, human and animal health.” The guidance “gives practical suggestions on the types of testing that are needed and the methods that can be applied” to evaluate the safety of nano-applications, EFSA explained in a news article published on the same day. “It covers areas such as novel foods, food contact materials, food and feed additives, and pesticides and is intended for all interested parties – in particular risk assessors, risk managers and applicants,” the agency further noted.
EFSA held a public consultation on the draft nano-guidance from January 12 to March 4, 2018 (FPF reported) and took into account “all comments received.” The guidance will now be subject to a pilot phase and is foreseen to be finalized by the end of 2019, EFSA informed. Also in 2019, a second guidance on “environmental risk assessment of nanoscience and nanotechnology applications in the food and feed chain” will be developed.
Read more
EFSA (July 4, 2018). “New guidance on nanotechnologies in food and feed.”
NIA (July 5, 2018). “EFSA publishes updated Guidance on nanotechnology in food and feed.”
IBE-BVI (October 2018). “EFSA: risk assessment guidance on nanotechnology applications.”
Reference
EFSA Scientific Committee (July 4, 2018). “Guidance on risk assessment of the application of nanoscience and nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain: Part 1, human and animal health.” EFSA Journal 16(7):5327.
