Abstract
Regarding nanotechnologies and the consumer, a central paradox is the absence of a regulatory framework while more than 1,000 nano-enabled products are already available on the consumer markets. This represents a serious challenge for the consumer interest. Even though the prospects of nanotechnologies are truly fascinating and represent possibilities to solve major problems—for instance in the realms of health, energy and poverty—it is important to also discuss the potential risks of nano-enabled products. The present study reports on a Norwegian study with data derived from focus groups, a content analysis of advertisements, packaging and labels for cosmetics as well as on a Norwegian consumer survey. Conceptually, the paper is based on the notion of consumer rights introduced by President J.F. Kennedy in 1962. Based on the results of these studies, consumer policy implications are sketched.
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Notes
The specifications are part of the original Consumer Message by President Kennedy, see Kennedy (1962).
The following questions concerned nanotechnologies (translated): How much have you heard about nanotechnology? If so, where have you heard about nanotechnology? Do you think that products produced with nanotechnology should be labelled? How big advantages do you think nanotechnology can result in? How risky do you think nanotechnology is? Do you know of any products in shops that contain nanotechnology? If so, which ones?
REACH: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances. The new law entered into force on 1 June 2007 (European Commission 2007).
The implication being that “from now on I have to do that in order to avoid nano products.”
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Acknowledgement
We would like to thank our project colleagues Sally Randles and Christian Greiffenhagen at Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, as well as research director at SIFO and project leader of this project Eivind Stø for inspiring discussions and collaboration. We would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments. Financial support from the NANOMAT-programme of the Research Council of Norway is gratefully acknowledged (Project grant no. 182043).
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Throne-Holst, H., Strandbakken, P. “Nobody Told Me I was a Nano-Consumer:” How Nanotechnologies Might Challenge the Notion of Consumer Rights. J Consum Policy 32, 393–402 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-009-9114-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-009-9114-9