France calls for caution over nanotech
The French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) has called for careful use of nanotechnology because “understanding of the toxicity of manufactured nanoparticles is sketchy”. Thebody did not suggest that it believed nanotech was unsafe but had arrived at its position from a precautionary perspective.
Nanotechnology is the study of the controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale of a size of 100 nanometres or smaller. Materials made of nanometric particles can sometimes show new properties or properties that are many times those of conventional materials, said AFSSA.
Unanswered questions
“Many questions remain to be answered before the risks and benefits relating to these compounds can be assessed,” officials added. “That is especially due to the fact that there is no method for measuring and tracking the life of manufactured nanoparticles in complex matrices (environment, food, organisms, etc.)”
AFSSA urged caution because at present it was “impossible to assess the exposure of consumers and the health risks relating to the ingestion of nanoparticles”.
The agency also recommended that a systematic reporting and marketing regime be developed to regulate their authorisation onto the market. It said it has set up a working group to monitor advances in the field.
