U.S. Tells Industry to Further Test Safety of Nanotechnology Products

U.S. health regulators said consumer products that use nanotechnology may have unknown effects on the human body, and advised food and cosmetic companies to further study the safety of these particles.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued two draft guidelines calling for more studies. The FDA also rejected a consumer group’s petition from 2006 that urged a separate category of regulation for nanotechnology due to its “unique human health and environmental risks.”

Nanotech-nology involves designing and manufacturing materials on the scale of one-billionth of a meter – so small it cannot be seen with a regular light microscope. It is used in hundreds of products in areas ranging from stain-resistant clothing and cosmetics to food additives, but the health effects of nanoparticles are still poorly understood. Nanoparticles may be able to penetrate the skin, or move between organs, with unknown health effects.

The FDA advised companies that use nanotech in food additives or food packaging to consult with the agency and show that they are safe before selling their products.

Makers of most U.S. food additives and ingredients can tell the FDA that their ingredients are “generally recognized as safe” in order to legally sell them. The FDA said nanotechnology does not automatically fall into this category, meaning companies would have to prove additional safety data before approval.

Erik Olson, director of food programs at Pew Health Group, a consumer advocacy group, said companies can often simply inform the FDA that certain food additives are safe. The new guidelines for the first time show the FDA thinks nanomaterials deserve greater scrutiny. “The FDA is essentially saying (to companies), we don’t think you can just make your own decision a nanomaterial is safe without telling us,” he said.

The International Center for Technology Assessment, which filed the 2006 petition, sued the FDA late last year for being slow to reply. Jaydee Hanson, policy director at the center, said legal action may have prompted FDA to finally issue guidance for nanotech in food and cosmetics.

The European Union requires companies to prove a nanotech product is safe before it can be sold, Hanson said. The FDA said cosmetics companies should do additional product testing but they are not required to submit safety data before selling their products.