Implementation Plan for the proposed Qualification System for New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in the food and feed sector with focus on nanomaterial risk assessment

Many promising New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) emerged in the last decades but only some are taken up as OECD Test Guidelines (TGs). For regulatory decision‐making data from non‐guideline studies is primarily considered as mechanistic support rather than direct evidence. The nanotechnology sector is particularly promising for the implementation of NAMs in risk assessment. The EFSA Guidance on risk assessment of nanomaterials (NMs) in the food and feed sector recommends using NAMs in the first steps to generate new information (EFSA Scientific Committee, 2021a).