Responsive governance of uncertain risks in the European Union

European governance of nanotechnologies ¹ is fascinating because it illuminates the possibilities and limits of regulating uncertain risks and especially so because, although there is no evidence on the benefits and risks of nanotechnologies as yet, European regulators are required to take action. They cannot afford to wait until the effects of technological applications are known. European regulators are committed to responsible nanotechnological development (EC 2005) and to precautionary action (EC 2000; Haum et al. 2004). Numerous commentators have concluded that applications of nanotechnologies will penetrate and permeate through nearly all sectors and spheres of life (IRGC 2006: 19). Although many of these accounts are focusing on new, advanced and coming applications, nano-enabled products are already on the market. In March 2011 the well-known inventory of the US Woodrow Wilson Centre noted that it now includes 1,317 consumer products and that it has grown by nearly 521 per cent since it was released in March 2006 (Woodrow Wilson Center 2011).