National Laboratory

The use of nanomaterials in food is a recent and rapidly growing area. The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for nanomaterials in food has been established in 2020 and builds upon the collaboration of the National Institute of Health (ISS) – Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health – and the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZS). The collaboration is regulated by a specific memorandum of understanding.

ISS coordinates the NRL. The Head, within ISS, and a Deputy, within IZS, are jointly appointed by the President of ISS and the Director General of IZS. This organisation is published in the websites of the two institutes, in the respective sections devoted to the NRL. In addition to a website, each institute provides an email address of the NRL.

The responsibilities and tasks of NRLs are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/625, article 101. There is no European Union Reference Laboratory for nanomaterials in food. The NRL areas of competence are:

• novel foods
• food supplements (vitamin, mineral or other supplements)
• food additives
• food contact materials (FCM)
• flavourings and enzymes

Other areas of competence may add if assigned to the NRL by the Ministry of Health.