Chaired by:
Stefan Weigel (RIKILT – Institute for Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands)

In recent years a steady increase in the capabilities to detect and characterise nanomaterials in complex matrices was observed. In first instance this was i.a. important for the analysis of biological tissues and fluids from toxicology studies and for an assessment of the exposure of consumers via food and products. Recently, an increasing number of regulations came into force that requires the analysis of nanomaterials in complex matrices. Since December 2014 the Regulation on the Provision of Food Information to Consumers requires the labelling of nano-sized ingredients for food. The same applies to cosmetics by the Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products since July 2013. Further regulations expected to trigger a need for nanomaterial analysis concern food additives, novel foods, food contact materials, medical devices and biocidal products.
Resultantly, both the private sector and official statutory testing laboratories need to establish reliable and fit-for-purpose methods to measure nanomaterials in food, cosmetics and consumer products. Industry needs to verify that the used materials/batches comply with their specifications and control the stability of nanomaterials in their products. Statutory testing laboratories have to monitor the compliance of products with the respective regulations.
The workshop will address the needs of the different stakeholder groups by highlighting relevant legislation and by providing an overview of currently available techniques, their potential as well as their limitations. A selection of cutting edge applications for food, cosmetics and consumer products will be presented. Furthermore, a block of tutorials on relevant techniques, e.g. electron microscopy (EM), field flow fractionation (FFF) and single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS), addresses young scientists and laboratories starting to implement nano-analytical methods. An interactive panel discussion with experts from academia, industry and public authorities offers the possibility to exchange on fundamental as well as practical issues, difficulties and possible solutions.

PROGRAM OF THE WORKSHOP

Dr. Stefan Weigel (About speaker & chair)
(RIKILT – Institute for Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands)

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