Groups Sue EPA over Faulty Approval of Nanotechnology Pesticide
July 27, 2015 (Washington, DC)—Center for Food Safety (CFS) and the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) today filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to conditionally approve the antimicrobial nanosilver pesticide product “NSPW-L30SS” (previously “Nanosilva”) for use in an unknown number of textiles and plastics. Nanotechnology is a powerful new platform technology for taking apart and reconstructing nature at the atomic and molecular level. Consumer products containing manufactured nanoparticles have already arrived on market shelves, including nano-pesticide products.
Following Successful CFS Lawsuit, EPA Takes Two Nano-products Off the Market
April 1, 2015 (Washington, DC)—Center for Food Safety today commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for issuing an order to stop the sale of “BioStorm” and “NanoStrike,” two nano-silver based products from Nano Defense Solutions, Inc. that are being marketed by the company for use in hospitals and athletic facilities. The order, which also applies to any other products using the same formulation, comes just a week after EPA agreed to regulate novel nanomaterial pesticides as a result of a lawsuit filed by Center for Food Safety (CFS) in December.
National Organic Program Leaves Door Open to Nanotechnology in Organic
Decision Stuns Organic Community and Undercuts Recommendations of its Appointed Advisory Board
March 26, 2015 (Washington, DC)—Against the objections by the large majority of the organic community, guidance issued yesterday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (USDA/NOP) will now allow companies to petition to use nanotechnology in organic products, rather than prohibit it as was expected. The new guidance disregards recommendations made by the Agency’s own appointed advisors, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which determined that: “there is an overwhelming agreement within the organic industry to prohibit nanotechnology in organic production and processing” (Oct. 28, 2010).
EPA Agrees to Regulate Novel Nanotechnology Pesticides After Legal Challenge
March 24, 2015 (Washington, DC)—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to regulate novel nanomaterial pesticides as a result of alawsuit filed by Center for Food Safety (CFS) in December. In 2008, a coalition of nonprofits led by CFS filed a 116-page legal petition, requesting, among other things, that EPA recognize the growing class of nano-silver consumer products and their risks and regulate them as new pesticides. After EPA had failed to respond to the petition for six years, in December 2014 some of the petitioner groups sued the agency to force it to respond. That lawsuit succeeded on Friday, with EPA issuing a 23-page response.
Nonprofits Sue EPA for Failure to Regulate Novel Pesticide Products Created With Nanotechnology
Nanomaterials have proliferated in food and other consumer products with little to no oversight
Lawsuit Will Compel Unlawfully Delayed Agency Answer to Groups’ 2008 Legal Petition Demanding Regulation
December 17, 2014 (Washington, DC)- Center for Food Safety (CFS) filed a lawsuit late yesterday against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the agency’s failure to regulate novel nanomaterial pesticides. In 2008 CFS filed a legal petition demanding the agency take action; today nonprofits sued the agency for its failure to answer their petition while the proliferation of nanomaterials in consumer products continues unabated.
FDA Releases Final Guidance on Nanotechnology in Food
Recommendations begin to address hole in oversight but legally binding regulations are needed
June 26, 2014 (Washington, DC) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final guidance to companies that use nanotechnologies in food products. The FDA recommends that companies consult with the agency before taking products to market and warns that nanotechnology products may require additional safety review on a case-by-case basis.
EPA Orders Withdrawal of Nanotechnology Food Packaging from Market
Major step for consumer protection lauded by Center for Food Safety
March 31, 2014 (Washington, DC) – Center for Food Safety (CFS) today commended Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for ordering Pathway Corporation to stop selling plastic food containers containing nano silver.
