The case for regulating nanotechnologies: international, European and national perspectives

Ngarize, S., Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. 2013. The case for regulating nanotechnologies: international, European and national perspectives. Review of European Community and International Environmental Law. 22 (2), pp. 131-145. https://doi.org/10.1111/reel.12029

TitleThe case for regulating nanotechnologies: international, European and national perspectives
AuthorsNgarize, S., Makuch, K. and Pereira, R.
Abstract

Governments in leading industrialized countries are currently primarily relying on existing regulatory frameworks for environmental, health and safety regulation to cover nanotechnology risks. European and national regulators have generally concluded that any risks posed by nanomaterials can be addressed using existing frameworks, with minor adjustments to specific regulations. Identifying appropriate responses to uncertain risks is a difficult task for policy makers and regulatory agencies, as they are faced with a high degree of scientific uncertainty, the need to balance the costs and benefits of regulation, and the need to find a reasonable compromise between scientific freedom, technological innovation, consumer safety and environmental protection. As nanotechnologies are arguably only recently gaining public prominence, and their regulation is still in its infancy, this article examines some of the issues faced by regulators, offers insights into potential methods for regulation, and critiques the current state of international, European and national law and policy. The article concludes that to address the current regulatory gaps and environmental and health safety concerns surrounding nanomaterials, nanospecific regulation establishing product specification, notification, public disclosure and risk assessment requirements is necessary.

JournalReview of European Community and International Environmental Law
Journal citation22 (2), pp. 131-145
ISSN2050-0394
Year2013
PublisherWiley
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/reel.12029
Publication dates
Published2013

Related outputs

Financial crimes in the European carbon markets
Nield, K. and Pereira, R. 2016. Financial crimes in the European carbon markets. in: Weishaar, S. (ed.) Research Handbook on Emissions Trading Cheltenham Edward Elgar. pp. 195-231

Pollution from seabed activities
Pereira, R. 2016. Pollution from seabed activities. in: Attard, D., Fitzmaurice, M., Martinez, N. and Hamza, R. (ed.) IMLI manual on international maritime law: volume III: Marine environmental law and international maritime Ssecurity law Oxford Oxford University Press.

Environmental criminal liability and enforcement in European and international law
Pereira, R. 2015. Environmental criminal liability and enforcement in European and international law. Brill.

Government-Sponsored Population Policies and Indigenous Peoples: Challenges for International Human Rights Law
Pereira, R. 2015. Government-Sponsored Population Policies and Indigenous Peoples: Challenges for International Human Rights Law. Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights. 33 (4), pp. 437-483. https://doi.org/10.1177/016934411503300405

The Cartagena protocol on living modified organisms: the regulation of trade in transgenic organisms under international and European environmental law
Pereira, R. 2014. The Cartagena protocol on living modified organisms: the regulation of trade in transgenic organisms under international and European environmental law. in: Benedict, M.Q. (ed.) Transgenic insects: techniques and applications CABI.

Permanent sovereignty over natural resources in the 21st century: natural resource governance and the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples under international law
Pereira, R. and Gough, O. 2013. Permanent sovereignty over natural resources in the 21st century: natural resource governance and the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples under international law. Melbourne Journal of International Law. 14 (2), pp. 451-495.

A legal framework for clean technology transfer and finance
Wright, H. and Pereira, R. 2012. A legal framework for clean technology transfer and finance. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 75-91

International and EU climate change law
Pereira, R. and Jourdain, C. 2012. International and EU climate change law. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 141-171

The regionalization of criminal law: the example of European criminal law
Pereira, R. 2012. The regionalization of criminal law: the example of European criminal law. in: van den Herik, L. and Stahn, C. (ed.) The diversification and fragmentation of international criminal law Brill.

The exploration and exploitation of energy resources in international law
Pereira, R. 2012. The exploration and exploitation of energy resources in international law. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 199-224

Environmental regulation, business competitiveness and corporate responsibility
Pereira, R. 2012. Environmental regulation, business competitiveness and corporate responsibility. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 61-74

Compliance and enforcement in international, European and national environmental law
Pereira, R. 2012. Compliance and enforcement in international, European and national environmental law. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 559-574

The regulation of nanotechnologies
Ngarize, S., Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. 2012. The regulation of nanotechnologies. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 437-462

UK climate change law and policy
Makuch, K., Makuch, Z., Pereira, R. and Jourdain, C. 2012. UK climate change law and policy. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 172-192

The clean development mechanism: legal and contractual framework in CDM renewable energy projects
Aidelojie, K., Tze-Teo, C., Makuch, Z. and Pereira, R. 2012. The clean development mechanism: legal and contractual framework in CDM renewable energy projects. in: Makuch, K. and Pereira, R. (ed.) Environmental and energy law Wiley. pp. 288-310

Fraud on the European Union emissions trading scheme: effects, vulnerabilities and regulatory reform
Nield, K. and Pereira, R. 2011. Fraud on the European Union emissions trading scheme: effects, vulnerabilities and regulatory reform. European Energy and Environmental Law Review. 20 (6), pp. 255-289.

The legal basis for harmonisation of environmental criminal law in the EU: past and future challenges
Pereira, R. 2011. The legal basis for harmonisation of environmental criminal law in the EU: past and future challenges. in: Andenas, M. and Andersen, C.B. (ed.) Theory and practice of harmonisation Edward Elgar. pp. 403-424

The right to reproductive self-determination of indigenous peoples under human rights law
Pereira, R. 2009. The right to reproductive self-determination of indigenous peoples under human rights law. in: Berking, S. and Zolkos, M. (ed.) Between life and death: governing population in an era of human rights Peter Lang.

On the legality of the ship-source pollution 2005/35/EC directive: the Intertanko case and selected others
Pereira, R. 2008. On the legality of the ship-source pollution 2005/35/EC directive: the Intertanko case and selected others. European Energy and Environmental Law Review. 17 (6), pp. 372-383.

Environmental criminal law in the first pillar: a positive development for environmental protection in the European Union?
Pereira, R. 2007. Environmental criminal law in the first pillar: a positive development for environmental protection in the European Union? European Energy and Environmental Law Review. 16 (10), pp. 254-268.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8z102/the-case-for-regulating-nanotechnologies-international-european-and-national-perspectives


Share this

Usage statistics

103 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.