Posted: November 28, 2008 | |
Food safety implications of nanotechnology on agenda of World Health Organization and FAO |
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(Nanowerk News) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recognized a need for scientific advice on any food safety implications that may arise from the use of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors through its horizon scanning activities. | |
Given the increased global interest in the use of nanotechnology and concerns on the potential food safety implications, FAO and WHO have planned to convene a joint Expert Meeting which aims to identify knowledge gaps including issues on food safety, review current risk assessment procedures, consequently support further food safety research and develop global guidance on adequate and accurate methodologies to assess potential food safety risks that may arise from nanoparticles. | |
The meeting – Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on the Application of Nanotechnologies in the Food and Agriculture Sectors: Potential Food Safety Implications – will be held on June 1-5, 2009, at FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy. | |
Scope | |
The scope of the Expert Meeting should cover actual and anticipated nanotechnologies applied in the food and agriculture sectors, with particular attention to: | |
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Nanotechnologies applied in the environment may also be included if there is a potential direct impact on food safety through the environment to food chain. The Expert Meeting will NOT cover occupational health matters surrounding the use and application of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors, although these issues may be noted for further consideration elsewhere. | |
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Diagram on potential applications of nanotechnologies through a food chain from primary food production to consumption, which may require considerations on food safety aspects aimed at protecting the health of consumers. | |
Objectives | |
The overall purpose of the Expert Meeting is to provide member countries with comprehensive information on what is currently known about potential food safety risks, to identify priority areas of work required to better assess these risks and to advise on ways to promote transparent and constructive dialogue among stakeholders. | |
To this respect, the objectives of the Expert Meeting should be: | |
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Expected outputs | |
The Expert Meeting will: | |
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Source: FAO/WHO |
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