Nanotechnologies have opened the way to a wide range of innovative products in food, cosmetics, healthcare, computing, energy storage, and other areas. The result of the deliberate manipulation of matter at the molecular level (typically at a scale of approximately 100 nanometers or less, a nanometer being one-billionth of a meter), nanomaterials have been used in a growing number of products that are available to consumers worldwide. Understanding of how nanomaterials interact with the environment and the human body, however, has not kept pace with the development of nanotechnologies. Early results of research suggest that the safety of all nanomaterials cannot be taken for granted. Furthermore, the ongoing expansion of nanotechnologies may produce novel nanostructures that cause currently unknown forms of hazard. While researchers and regulatory agencies are seeking to fill existing scientific knowledge gaps, the commercialization of nano-enabled products continues, primarily in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Consumer labeling of nanomaterials is set to become an important and potentially controversial issue on the transatlantic regulatory agenda. Until recently, neither the United States nor the European Union (EU) had enacted a general labeling requirement for nanomaterials. In November 2009, however, the EU enacted a regulation requiring the labeling of cosmetic products that contain nanoscale materials. The regulation consolidates and updates several prior regulations on cosmetics and requires ingredient listings to include the word "nano" for any nanoscale ingredients.