This book investigates the role of law in confronting major societal transformations, namely globalisation and the emergence of nanotechnologies. Taking the case of the European Union, it explores who the key decision-makers in the field of nanotechnologies are and how they take decisions. Questions are explored through two distinct case studies: the food and chemicals sectors. The incremental retreat of the European Union to its executive powers, including 'soft law' measures such as agencies' guidelines or comitology measures, is charted. This, the author argues, results in the Union's...