Evaluation of the European commission recommendation for a code of conduct for responsible Nanosciences and nanotechnology research

Abstract

The recent European Community consultation on the voluntarily adoptable Recommendation for a Code of Conduct for Responsible Nanosciences and Nanotechnology Research brings to the fo-reground questions regarding its efficacy and appropriateness. This article scrutinizes the rules and guidelines of the recommendation in terms of intent, literal meaning, and internal consistency. The recommendation's niche within the larger context of international public law and the EU nanos-cience and nanotechnologies legal framework is also explored. Responses collected in 2010 regard-ing the Code of Conduct's impact and influence on targeted industries are analyzed, as well as stakeholders' preferences for revision. The viewpoints of other published ethical codes for nano-technology and nanoscience are compared and contrasted to those embodied in the Code of Con-duct.