Regulating Nanotechnology in Food and Consumer Products:  Developing A Consumer-focused Transatlantic Approach

10th June 2009

Venue : NH Hotel du Grand Sablon, 2-4, Rue Bodenbroekstraat, 1000, Brussels

Conference objectives

The conference brought together experts from industry, academia, governments and consumer groups for a day of discussion concerning the regulatory approaches adopted by the EU and US and the necessary steps for ensuring that products containing nanotechnologies are safe and beneficial to consumers. The conference also aimed to help consumer organisations who are starting to work on these issues to further develop their understanding.

Read a summary report of the conference.

Panel 1

"Nanomaterials in Consumer Products: Status of Developments - What is the current situation in the EU and US?"

Chair: Rasmus Kjeldahl - Executive Director, Danish Consumer Council

Dr Andrew Maynard - Chief Science Advisor, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson Center

Sue Davies - Chief Policy Adviser, Which?

Carolyn Cairns - Program Leader, Product Safety, Consumers Union

Dr Steffi Freidrichs – Director, Nanotechnologies Industries Association

Panel 2

"Why nanoparticles are different: the potential for benefits and risks - What type of applications are likely and what are the implications?"

Chair: Jean Halloran - Director, Food Policy Initiatives, Consumers Union

Dr Jennifer Sass – Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defence Council

Dr David Carlander - Scientific Officer, European Food Safety Authority

Prof James Bridges - Chair of EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks

Thomas Epprecht – Director, Underwriting Products, Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd

Keynote speech

Robert Madelin – Director General, DG SANCO, European Commission

Panel 3

"EU and US regulatory responses: What is being done? What specific actions have the US government and the EU taken to protect consumers?"

Chair: Axel Singhofen - Adviser on Health and Environment Policy, Green/EFA political group European Parliament

Jean-François Roche and Juergen Vogelgesang – DG SANCO, European Commission

Laurent Sellès – Deputy Head of Unit, Cosmetics and Medical Devices, DG Enterprise, European Commission

Henrik Laursen – DG Environment, European Commission

Linda Tollefson – Director, Europe Regional Office, US Food and Drug Administration

Dr Robert Falkner – Senior Lecturer, London School of Economics

Panel 4

"Next steps: What action is needed? How best can we get ahead of problems with a new technology, avoid divergent approaches to maximize benefits while preventing potential
harm?"

Chair: Chiara Giovaninni – Programme Manager, ANEC

Dr Gerald Renner – Director of Science and Research, COLIPA

Dr Carolin Kranz - Corporate and Governmental Relations, BASF

Ruth Veale – Head of Food Department, BEUC

Jaydee Hanson – Policy Analyst, Centre for Food Safety

The conference was held along-side TACD’s 10th Annual Meeting .