Engineered nanomaterials and adequate toxicity testing
is essential for the risk assessment
The European Food Safety Authority has today published
a guidance document for the risk assessment of engineered nanomaterial (ENM)
applications in food and feed. The guidance is the work of the Authority’s
Scientific Committee and is the first of its kind to give practical guidance
for addressing potential risks arising from applications of nanoscience and
nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain. The guidance covers risk
assessments for food and feed applications including food additives, enzymes,
flavourings, food contact materials, novel foods, feed additives and
pesticides.
The EFSA guidance, prepared in response to a request
from the European Commission, sets out the considerations for risk assessment
of ENM that may arise from their specific characteristics and properties.
Commenting on the publication of the EFSA guidance,
Professor Vittorio Silano, Chair of EFSA’s Scientific Committee explained, “A
thorough characterisation of the engineered nanomaterials followed by adequate
toxicity testing is essential for the risk assessment of these applications.
Yet we recognise uncertainties related to the suitability of certain existing
test methodologies and the availability of data for ENM applications in food
and feed. The guidance makes recommendations about how risk assessments should
reflect these uncertainties for food and feed applications.”
To assist with the practical use of the guidance, six
scenarios are presented which outline different toxicity testing approaches.
For each scenario, the guidance indicates the type of testing required.
EFSA conducted a public consultation on its
preparatory work, acknowledging the importance of developing risk assessment
methodologies in this field to support innovation whilst ensuring the safety of
food and feed.
Risk assessment of engineered nanomaterials is under
fast development and consequently, in keeping with EFSA’s commitment to review
its guidance for risk
Source: EFSA Media Relations Office, E-mail: Press@efsa.europa.eu
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