International Cooperation in the Regulation of Nanotechnology

The nanotechnology industry and other interested stakeholders have kept a keen eye on various governmental regulatory bodies regarding the regulation and oversight of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. Since the mid-2000s, such bodies have generally taken a cautious approach. They have tended to utilize existing regulatory frameworks and have generally eschewed creating new frameworks or issuing regulations specific to nanotechnology. It is unlikely that this approach will continue forever as political pressure may ultimately lead to the creation of nanotechnology-specific regulatory regimes. What will such regulation look like? What would be the parameters? What definitions may be employed? To answer these questions, we may look not only to individual country's regulatory authorities but also to international bodies and various countries' steps toward cooperation in the field of nanotechnology. This article provides a broad overview of the general approach taken by major countries in the field of nanotechnology. It also describes steps taken in international cooperation in this area and suggests possible areas of international regulatory convergence.