Since 2004, the European Union has intensified its efforts with regard to regulatory aspects of nanotechnology. New legislation is based on existing regulations. At the beginning the assumption still prevailed that current legislation would suffice to cover nanotechnology. However, some fields have started to adapt; in particular with regard to chemicals, cosmetics and food. This dossier describes the changing EU regulatory strategy. It further gives an overview of legal fields important to nanotechnology. These fields range from workplace safety, chemicals and product safety to industrial and environmental law.