Nano Regulation in Austria (I): Chemical and Product Safety (NanoTrust Dossier No. 018en – January 2011)

Compared to international standards, an Austrian debate on regulation of nanotechnologies was only initiated in 2006. A first parliamentary inquiry was made in 2007. The same year, the Bioethics Commission at the Federal Chancellery adopted a recommendation on nanotechnology. The regulation of nanotechnology is also mentioned in the Program of the Austrian federal government for the (current) 24th legislative period. A legal inquiry into this topic has just begun with only preliminary conclusions. The complexity of the matter, the remembrance of the experiences with public communication about genetic engineering and in particular the strong influence of this field of law by EU legislation served in the beginning of the political debate as justification for the restraint concerning an independent positioning of Austria. Since 2008 the debate gained momentum with several conferences and the enactment of the Austrian Nanotechnology Action Plan (NAP) in 2010. This dossier concentrates on chemicals, biocidal products, pesticides, medicinal products, medical devices, cosmetics and food as well as on general product safety