A Framework Convention for Nanotechnology?

Abstract

With nanotechnology now a major funding priority for governments and industry around the world, devising the manner and timing of regulation presents a challenge. Too much regulation too soon could hinder development of beneficial technologies, while too little regulation too late may allow dangerous technologies to enter the market.

Kenneth Abbott, Gary Marchant, and Douglas Sylvester argue that any solution to this regulatory dilemma must have four basic characteristics: the solution must be flexible, innovative, international, and official. In this Article, they advocate a framework convention on nanotechnology as a regulatory tool meeting these four requirements.

The authors use a series of case studies to reveal framework convention best practices, and conclude with a summary of how a nanotechnology framework convention might be structured.

Keywords: nanotechnology, regulation, international law, technology, international relations, soft law, framework, convention, environmental, trade, Gatt, WTO, tobacco convention