In an article published on March 2, 2018, the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) informed that is has commented on the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) draft guidance on the risk assessment of nanomaterials in food and feed. EFSA held a public consultation on its draft nano-guidance from January 12 to March 4, 2018 (FPF reported).
NIA praised that EFSA’s draft guidance “is very comprehensive from a scientific perspective, considering its intended broad coverage of potential products and applications in the food and feed area.” NIA also welcomed the tiered approach and screening options outlined by EFSA. However, NIA highlighted that EFSA’s interpretation of nanomaterials is too broad and thus “the guidance would in most instances and in general be equally applicable to any substance in the food/feed area, and many of its considerations would not be nanospecific.” NIA is in favor of applying a common definition of nanomaterials and suggests the European Commission’s recommendation which is currently under revision (FPF reported). Further, NIA stressed that the requirements for the information that has to be submitted to EFSA in an application should not be too stringent so as to not hinder innovation.
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NIA (March 2, 2018). “NIA submits comments to the draft 2018 EFSA nano guidance.”
