The nanotech researchers and companies are trying to head off future controversies about their products. By analysing the biotech fracas that has occurring and is still happening in various countries (especially in Europe). Quite aside from this, there are cogent comparisons between the 2 fields. Much similarity at small scales.
Perhaps the greatest difference is that nanotech does not necessarily have to mean products for consumption by humans or livestock. Some mooted nanotech products were never alive or derived from biological sources. Plus, they cannot reproduce. Therein lies a lot of the fear of biotech products; the running amok of them.