Governing nanotechnology safety: The politics of risk regulation in Europe and the United States

Abstract

Examining one of the fastest growing industries in the world, Ronit Justo-Hanani compares the distinctly different approaches between both sides of the Atlantic when regulating the health, safety and environmental risks of nanotechnology and its novel properties. Looking at ongoing adjustments to existing laws, Justo-Hanani details how and why, in contrast to the United States, the European Union has adopted a far more stringent, comprehensive regulatory policy for nanotechnology safety. This illuminating book shows that despite the US' prominence in global nanotechnology markets, the strict rules of the EU have been at the forefront of market regulations across the globe. With a full and comparative account of the politics and regulatory processes of nanotechnology safety in the EU and US, it ultimately argues that the EU's adaptive and proactive, capacity-building strategy, is the key to strengthening its role as a global regulatory leader. This timely book will be useful to students and scholars of regulation and governance; science, technology, and innovation policy; environmental and health policy; and international law and politics. Its practical applications will also be of interest to policymakers concerned with the advancements of nanotechnology.