Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her proposals to legislate for the use of nanotechnology in the food and feed industries; the regulations which exist governing this technology; the proposals at EU level to address this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32122/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Nanotechnology is a new and rapidly developing area of science which involves using minuscule (nano) particles (particles which are 1,000 times smaller then the diameter of a fine human hair), to develop new products or new variations of existing products with novel characteristics and functionalities. In September 2008, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland published a report from its Scientific Committee entitled "The Relevance for Food Safety of Applications of Nanotechnology in the Food and Feed Industries". This report provides an in-depth background on nanotechnology and its many current and potential applications along with associated benefits and possible risks.

The technology is expected to provide significant benefit to industry and consumers alike but because there are still some information gaps a certain amount of caution is prudent at this time, particularly in its application to food and feed production. The FSAI report concludes with a set of recommendations that include a call for the development of harmonised EU regulatory controls and for foods containing man-made nano particles to be labelled so that consumers are informed. There are currently fewer than 70 patented nanotechnological products in Ireland and most of these relate to packaging of food, rather than food or feed.

The FSAI considers existing EU legislation to be sufficiently wide-ranging to govern the use of nanotechnology in food production with Regulation EC No. 178/2002 requiring that food placed on the market be safe. The novel food Regulation, EC No. 258/97 controls food ingredients that have been produced by a new production process, including nanotechnology, and this legislation is currently being revised with nanotechnology among other new technologies in mind. Similarly, for food additives and food contact materials, current legislation is seen to be able to cope with the advent of nanotechnological applications. At EU and National level, the European Food Safety Authority and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland will maintain a watching brief on developments in the science and application of the technology as well as regulatory progress at EU and international level.