What is Regulation?

Regulation is a rule issued by an administrative agency or a local governmental body prescribing conditions or authorizations that must be followed by the public or by public utilities- the process of controlling by restrictions or rules. One can consider regulation as actions of conduct imposing sanctions (such as a fine). This action of administrative law, or implementing regulatory law, may be contrasted with statutory or case law. Common examples of regulation include attempts to control market entries, price, wages, pollution effects, employment for certain people in certain industries, standards of production for certain goods, the military forces and services.

Why to Regulate Nanotechnology?

Particles at nanoscale behave in entirely different way than their counterparts at the bulk level. Data concerning the effect of nanoparticles on human health and environment are not adequate at this moment. So far, neither engineered nanoparticles nor the products and materials that contain them are subject to any special regulation regarding production, handling or labeling. Given the risks and potential uncertainties associated with nanoparticles and the products utilizing nanoparticles, there are a lot of demands from various sectors of the society, like the environmental groups, to regulate nanotechnology.

To know more about the regulatory issues associated with nanotechnology, please refer to the articles, presentations, and links available under "Resources" in this website.

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