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Posted: January 29, 2008

EPA launches nanotechnology monitoring project; Top government officials to speak at FDLI conference
(Nanowerk News) Federal agencies have begun to focus their attention on regulating nanotechnology. A Food and Drug Administration task force recently issued a major report on nanotechnology, and the Environmental Protection Agency just launched its Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) to find out the human health and environmental risks and benefits of nanoscale chemical products.
Now, for the first time, top officials at the agencies responsible for the regulation of nanotechnology products --- including the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Department of Agriculture --- will meet at a Food and Drug Law Institute conference to discuss their plans for managing and monitoring these products.
At FDLI's 1st Annual Conference on Nanotechnology Law, Regulation and Policy, February 28-29, 2008, at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, in Washington, D.C., food and drug industry representatives also will find out what's happening internationally on nanotech regulation, how venture capitalists look at the future of nanotechnology and what the leading corporations, scientific laboratories and academic centers are focusing on in this dynamic field.
This groundbreaking conference, co-sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars' Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, in partnership with Arizona State University and the Burdock Group, will address the crucial issues surrounding nanotechnology law, regulation and policy, including:
  • What first and second generation nanotechnology products already are on the market, and what is to come?
  • Is Congress ready to act on nanotechnology if federal regulators do not?
  • Do Europe and Asia approach nanotechnology safety and oversight differently than the United States?
  • How do consumers see nanoproducts?
  • When it comes to nanotechnology, should size make a regulatory difference?
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    Michael Taylor, Research Professor of Health Policy, School of Public Health and Health Services, The George Washington University, and author of the most comprehensive report published on nanotechnology regulation at FDA, Regulating the Products of Nanotechnology, Does FDA Have the Tools It Needs?, will present the keynote address. Also, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), co-chair of the Congressional Nanotechnology Caucus, and invited luncheon speaker, will discuss future congressional actions in this area.
    Top-level FDA officials, including Associate Commissioner for Science Norris Alderson; Deputy Commissioner for Policy Randall W. Lutter; Deputy Associate General Counsel Jeffrey Senger; and Director of Food Additive Safety Laura Tarantino, will appear on a special panel on FDA regulation of nanotechnology.
    Other featured speakers and moderators include:
    Jay M. Ansell, Personal Care Products Council;
    Susan D. Brienza, Of Counsel, Patton Boggs LLP;
    George Burdock, President, Burdock Group;
    Robert W. Carpick; University of Pennsylvania Director, The Nanotechnology Institute;
    Ricardo Carvajal; Counsel, Reed Smith LLP;
    Jim Czaban, Partner, WilmerHale;
    Lee Farrow, Senior Vice President, ACE Medical Risk;
    Piotr Grodzinski, Director, NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, NIH;
    Ralph Hall, Professor, University of Minnesota Law School;
    Robert A. Hoerr, President & CEO, Nanocopoeia, Inc.;
    Michael Holman. Senior Analyst, Lux Research;
    Karen Hunter, Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service;
    Rachel G. Lattimore, Partner, Arent Fox LLP;
    Bernie Liebler, Director, Technology & Regulatory Affairs, AdvaMed;
    Scott Livingston, Managing Director, Axiom Capital Management/The Livingston Group;
    Jane Macoubrie, President, Embry Research;
    Ellen Maldenado, Attorney-at-Law;
    Gary Marchant, Lincoln Professor of Emerging Technologies, Law & Ethics
    Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law;
    Philippe Martin, Principal Administrator, Nanotechnologies Policy Development and Coordination, Consumer Protection Directorate (DG-SANCO), European Commission;
    Terry L. Medley, Global Director, Corporate Regulatory Affairs, DuPont Environment and Sustainable Growth Center;
    Julia A. Moore, Deputy Director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars;
    Sean Murdock, Executive Director, NanoBusiness Alliance;
    Fern P. O'Brian, Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP;
    Leon Radomsky, Chair, Nanotechnology Industry Team, Foley & Lardner LLP;
    David W. Rejeski, Director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars;
    Stephanie Scharf, Partner, Schoeman Updike Kauffman & Scharf;
    Dietram Scheufele, Professor of Life Sciences Communication, University of Wisconsin;
    Paul A. Schulte. Director, Education and Information Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
    Laura Sciarrino, Vice President, Legal, CV Therapeutics, Inc.; and
    Jim Willis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
    The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies is an initiative launched by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2005. It is dedicated to helping business, government and the public anticipate and manage possible health and environmental implications of nanotechnology.
    Burdock Group has more than 20 years of expertise regarding ingredient safety and regulatory consultation services. Burdock Group's team offers mission-critical services that include Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), New Dietary Ingredient Notifications (NDINs), Consumption Analysis, Claims substantiation, Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Literature Searches and Label Reviews. For more information, visit http://www.BurdockGroup.com.
    The Center for the Study of Law, Science & Technology at Arizona State University is the nation's oldest and largest academic center focusing on the intersection of law with science and technology, and is currently engaged in a three-year study funded by the DOE on regulation of nanotechnology.
    In addition, FDLI is providing promotional assistance to the 7th Annual Nano Applications & Advanced Materials Forum, February 5 - 6, 2008, at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa at Indian Wells, in Palm Springs, CA. For the latest agenda on this meeting, presented by IBF Conferences, Inc., http://www.ibfconferences.com. , Mention Discount Code: S-FDLI t o receive a discounted rate of $495.
    For the FDLI conference, Early Bird Registration has been extended to February 8. To register for the conference, visit http://www.fdli.org or call (800) 956-6923 or (202) 371-1420.
    Founded in 1949, FDLI publishes the award-winning, peer-reviewed Food and Drug Law Journal; the bimonthly magazine Update; FDA Directory; and dozens of books and publications for attorneys, regulatory affairs practitioners, scientists, health care professionals, government employees and marketers in the food and drug field. For more information, visit http://www.fdli.org.
    Source: Food and Drug Law Institute