The EU Definition of Nanomaterials – An American Perspective

Since first citations of the term ‘Nanotechnology’, scientific, industrial, public and political stakeholders have called for a robust regulatory framework to address the concerns surrounding these exciting new materials. It is the promise of novel and useful properties from nano sizes of familiar materials that prompts a reappraisal of our knowledge of their potential toxicological and environmental impact. The argument goes that, without public and political confidence, this new science risks fear and distrust, rather than being embraced as providing a multitude of solutions to challenges in the fields of green energy, world food production or pharmaceutical advancement, to name but a few. While Europe is already on the move on this subject, the Americas are just starting to react. We asked Professor Andrew Maynard, University of Michigan, himself a well-known and out-spoken advocate of ‘sensible’ nanotechnology, for his comments.