The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a draft guidance addressing the use of nanotechnology in food for animals. The draft guidance was released in conjunction with three final guidances on the use of nanotechnology: in foods, in cosmetics and an agency-wide guidance outlining overarching considerations for all FDA-regulated products.
The draft guidance on the use of nanotechnology in food for animals addresses the legal framework for ingredients in food for animals and includes recommendations for submitting a Food Additive Petition (FAP) for a nanomaterial animal food ingredient. FDA is seeking public comment on this draft guidance through September 20, 2014.
Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that allows scientists to create, explore, and manipulate materials on a scale measured in nanometers–particles so small that they cannot be seen with a regular microscope. The technology has a broad range of potential applications, such as improving the packaging of food or altering the look and feel of cosmetics. FDA will continue to pursue its ongoing scientific research and regulatory approaches and will consider new studies and data, as they become available, to determine future actions.
Additional information
