The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on its draft guidance for the risk assessment of nanoscience and nanotechnology applications in the food and feed chain. The document covers the relevant areas within EFSA’s remit such as novel foods, food contact materials, food and feed additives and pesticides.
The draft guidance takes account of scientific developments that have taken place since the publication of the previous guidance in 2011, particularly studies that offer new insights into exposure assessment and hazard characterisation of nanomaterials.
It also considers nano-specific considerations relating to in vivo/ in vitro toxicological studies and outlines a tiered framework for toxicological testing and proposes ways to carry out risk characterisation and uncertainty analysis.
The closing date for comments is 4 March 2018.