Genetic Engineering
Keywords: Precautionary Principle, GMOs, Genetically Modified Food
LITHUANIA (2008)
Please renew the link to the webpage of Lithuanian Bioethics Committee
http://bioetika.sam.lt/index.php?-1702632112
Events
The Eighth Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR 8), organized in cooperation with other
partners in the Global Forum on Bioethics in Research, Vilnius, Lithuania, June 27-29, 2007. The
8th forum focused on Fostering the Research Ethics Infrastructure in the Developing
World/Transition Societies. A special emphasis during the conference was also be made on the
ethical aspects of mental health research (More: http://www.mies.mf.vu.lt/gfbr/index.html).
Training Course on Biotechnology Ethics, organized in the framework of European project
“Biotechnology Ethics: deepening by research, broadening to future applications and new EU
members, permeating education to young scientist” (BIOTETHED), 19-25, August, 2007, Vilnius,
Lithuania. More information about the project: http://www.biotethics.org.
ROMANIA (2007)
Although it hasn’t been issued any new law in the domain of bioethics there are several law
projects that are under governmental and public discussion at the present moment:
1.
the safety, moral and legal acceptability of the use of Genetically Modified Organisms in
Romania
2.
the use of genetic testing as a predictive and diagnostic tool in medicine
3.
the safety, legal and moral acceptability of stem cell research
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2007)
Science in Society Call 2007 (FP7-SiS-2007-1) and 2008 Work Programme
The evaluations for the 2007 Science in Society (SiS) call for proposals (FP7-SiS-2007-1) took
place over summer 2007. For ethics, 6 projects have been selected for funding and, after
finalising the contract negations, projects are expected to start early 2008.
The 2008 Work Programme will be published at the end of 2007 and will respect continuity while
introducing new elements. In the 2008 call for proposals the main ethics topics are on ethics and
new and emerging fields of science and technology, and on the promotion of pan-European and
international awareness of the ethical aspects of security technologies. Other activities in the
2008 Work Programme include the establishment of an expert group 'Animals for experimental
and other scientific purposes', in light of the forthcoming revision of the Directive on the protection
of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (86/609/EEC). From 2010
onwards, the SiS budget will increase significantly and open new opportunities for action at
Community level. Activities will therefore also prepare the transition towards more ambitious
goals.
Research Integrity
Research Integrity is a very important issue for the sound development of the European
Research Area. It is essential for maintaining the highest standards of research excellence as
well as for maintaining public support for research funding. The 2007 Science in Society Work
Programme provided financial support to the first World Conference on Research Integrity, in
September 2007 in Lisbon. The conference was organised jointly by European Science
Foundation and Office for Research Integrity (US). The Commission was represented in the
Steering Committee and participated actively to the conference, chairing various sessions. The
Commission also convened an Expert Meeting, which reflected on the challenges that individual
researchers but also the European scientific system as such face in relation to Research Integrity.
Based on these reflection and the outcomes of the Lisbon conference, the Commission will
further support activities on research integrity in 2008. Among others, it will contribute to the
discussion at European level by supporting networking between national offices and structures in
charge of Research Integrity in Europe. The aim is to further exchange of information and best
practices on standards, potential sanctions and responses to breaches to Research Integrity. It
will also examine efficient ways to monitor the integrity of research funded by the Framework
Programme.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2003)
Biosociety
In April 2003 the EU launched a new website dedicated to Biosociety. In recent years, there has
been a scientific revolution in life sciences and biotechnology that could have profound affects on
a wide range of fields, including healthcare, agriculture and environmental protection. However,
Europe has been slow to accept the possibilities and challenges posed by these emerging
sciences and technologies, largely because of uncertainty over their social, economic and ethical
implications. In recent Eurobarometer surveys, European citizens agreed that life sciences and
biotechnology could have positive affects for society, but also expressed concern about the risks
and ethics of biotechnology. Moreover, two thirds of European citizens felt that they were poorly
informed about science and technology and that the scientific field was too remote and
uncommunicative. This website is part of the EU's overall strategy to increase and widen the
biosociety debate in Europe. It is also one of several programmes that aim to improve
communication between the scientific community, the media and the general public. The site is a
source of accessible and clear information for those with a general interest in biosociety, as well
as detailed documentation and research updates for scientists and experts.
Sections are devoted to the three main strands of life sciences and biotechnology research:
health, food quality and safety and bioethics. Each section outlines EU policy, gives details of EU
funded research in this area and links to EU documents and legislation in these areas. The
bioethics section also provides links to other organisations dedicated to the ethical aspects of life
sciences and biotechnology and national ethics committees based in the Member States of the
EU.
The EU presented its Action Plan on Life Sciences and Biotechnology in January 2002, and this
was reviewed recently in a Commission Communication, Life Sciences and Technology, A
Strategy for Europe. This Action Plan is summarized in the policy section of the website. The site
also clarifies the
legislative process for EU biosociety legislation: the European Parliament's Committee on
Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy and the competitiveness Council of Ministers are
jointly responsible for setting out the broad policy and legislative framework under which the
Commission can operate in this field. Basic legislative documents on all aspects relating to life
sciences and biotechnology research are also provided, from genetically modified organisms and
labelling of foodstuffs to the protection on intellectual property rights.
The site also outlines EU action to promote international research and debate on biosociety
issues. Under the Sixth Framework Programme for Research (FP6), ?600 million is available for
international research projects. The EU also supports joint research efforts with developing
countries to help target communicable diseases and food safety.
The site is aimed at stimulating interaction between researchers and social scientists, economists
and ethical experts as well as the general public. An expert database allows you to search for
scientific experts, either by name or under specific research areas. The webforum allows for open
debate on critical biosociety issues: at the moment visitors to the site are encouraged to make
their contribution to the question 'How can life sciences and biotech help meet European
Society's health, environmental and economic needs?' Contributions from previous debates
remain online for consultation.
The reference section of the site provides updates of the latest news and future events relating to
biosociety,
official documents, catalogues of studies, brochures and reports. Definitions of specialist terms
that you may come across in some of the site's documents are provided in the bio-glossary. As
the site is developed, details of current and recent projects will also be provided, with profiles of
some of the EU's biggest success stories.
Biosociety:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/biosociety/index_en.htm
Eurobarometer:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/biosociety/public_understanding/eurobarometer_en.htm
Action Plan on Life Sciences and Biotechnology:
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2002/com2002_0027en01.pdf
Life Sciences and Technology, A Strategy for Europe:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/biotechnology/pdf/com2003-96_en.pdf
European Parliament's Committee on Industry,
External Trade, Research and Energy:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/committees/itre_home.htm
Competitiveness Council of Ministers:
http://ue.eu.int/Newsroom/loadbook.asp?BID=88&LANG=1
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO) (2003)
11 April 2003
(excerpt from letter from Mr Jacques Diouf, Director General of FAO to Mr Walter Schwimmer,
Secretary General of the Council of Europe)
I established an independent Panel of eminent Experts on Ethics in Food and Agriculture in 2000
to advise the Organization and raise public awareness of ethical considerations associated with
such vital issues as food security for present and future generations and sustainable
management of the earth’s limited resources. The Panel’s contribution, both to the work of FAO
and to the broader international discussion, is highly significant at a time when major
developments in food and agriculture – including accelerating technological advances, changes in
the resource base and evolving economic and market mechanisms – have brought a variety of
ethical questions to the fore.
The Panel has addressed a number of issues, including the global emergency of hunger, the
ethical challenges concerning agricultural intensification and economic globalization, the
equitable sharing of the benefits of biotechnologies, intellectual property rights and ethical
decision-making concerning Genetically Modified Organisms.
The FAO Ethics Programme also includes the preparation of papers within the FAO Ethics
Series, on average one paper a year. The first two papers are “Ethical Issues in Food and
Agriculture” and “ Genetically Modified Organisms, the Consumer, Food Safety and the
Environment.” The next two papers will be “The Ethics of sustainable Agricultural Intensification”
and “The Ethical Dimensions of Globalization of Food and Agriculture”, and will be published by
the end of this year. Further information can be found at the FAO website at
http://www.fao.org/ethics
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (2002)
Report on the Commission communication on Life sciences and biotechnology - A
Strategy for Europe
(COM(2002) 27 - C5-0260/2002 - 2002/2123(COS))
Doc.: A5-0359/2002
</omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=7743&LEVEL=3&MODE=SIP&NAV=X&LSTDOC=N>
Procedure : Consultation paper
Debate : 20.11.2002
Vote: 21.11.2002
Vote
Parliament adopted a resolution on the Commission communication on life sciences and
biotechnology. The House adopted a very biotechnology friendly view on how to develop this
science in future. It rejected most of the amendments proposed mainly by the Green group.
The Parliament emphasises the urgency to complete a harmonised, knowledge-based,
predictable and ethical legal framework for biotechnology companies and farmers, which aims to
secure consumer safety, competitiveness, the prevention of both a 'brain-drain' in this field and a
future dependency on the import of biotech products. The House considers that users of
biotechnological developments should bear no risk of liability under the relevant EU legislation.
The MEPs say it is important to inform the public that biotechnology offers opportunities in various
fields from health to agriculture and from industry to alternative energy resources. They call on
the Commission to launch a ‘B-Europe’ policy in the field of biotechnology. The Parliament
supports the Commission's idea to play a leading role in developing international guidelines but
regrets that this action is focused mainly on the food sector; points out that the establishment of
international guidelines is also necessary regarding the protection of human dignity in the field of
biotechnology.
On the issue of food the Parliament strongly supports the view that the existing de-facto
moratorium on GM foods in force since 1998 should cease, in order to promote innovation. The
Parliament states that biotechnology alone will not help to overcome hunger in the world but
underlines that it might also be necessary to use genetically modified crops to produce enough
food. The Parliament states that biotechnology can contribute towards finding genuine solutions
to environmental problems, sustainable development and food sufficiency. MEPs stress the need
to ensure that consumers receive reliable information about GMOs so that they can choose a
product on the basis of prior information and can acquire confidence in GMO products and
technology.
On reproductive medicine the MEPs state that genetic testing and analysis must be conducted
under clear rules within the frame of competent, independent and personal counselling which
must cover medical, ethical, social, psychological and legal aspects. They reaffirm that the life
and dignity of all human beings, whatever their stage of development and state of health, must be
respected and is opposed to any form of research or use of life sciences and biotechnology that
runs counter to this fundamental principle. The Parliament considers it important to ensure that no
woman is compelled to have a pre-natal diagnosis carried out. It says that determination of sex in
connection with prenatal diagnosis should be permitted only - if at all - if there is a risk of serious
gender specific hereditary diseases. It also repeats its insistence that there should be a universal
and specific ban at the level of the United Nations on the cloning of human beings at all stages of
formation and development.
The Parliament also calls the Member States to improve education in the field of biology with a
particular focus on genomes and microbiology. MEPs call for a transparent information policy
based on scientific data and the media to cover the issue impartially.
Press enquiries:
Leena Maria Linnus
(Strasbourg) tel.(33) 3 881 72421
(Brussels) tel.(32-2) 28 42825
e-mail : indu-press@europarl.eu.int mailto:indu-press@europarl.eu.int
The above information comes from the following website:
http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+PRESS+DN-200211211+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&LEVEL=2&NAV=S#SECTION5
Other Topics Concerned: Human Genetics
SLOVENIA (2001)
The field of biotechnology is another topic of both professional and public interest. A recent
symposium open to general public allowed for a balanced public debate on the ethical issues
arising from the use of gene technology, particularly in agriculture and animal farming, but also in
human medicine. A draft law is presently in the parliamentary procedure, and until it is adopted, a
moratorium is in place, e.g. on all field experiments as well as on importation of genetically
modified food. The symposium allowed voices of lay public to be heard, e.g., the consumers'
organisation, environmentalists, NGOs for sustainable development, etc., resulting in a
reasonably good and tolerant discussion.
The European School of Oncology is holding an Advanced Course on Ethics in Oncology,
which will also touch on the implications of the Oviedo Convention on the current medical and
research practices.
Recently, a law has been passed on animal protection, which among other things, regulates the
use and protection of animals in experimental medicine and in education.
Law on the protection of animals is currently in the parliamentary procedure. It will enshrine,
among other things, strict rules on the use of animals in teaching and research. It will sanction
any abuse.
The National Medical Ethics Committee has been involved in public debate on acceptability of
gene technology, including that in agriculture and food production. Various non-governmental
organisations have requested that the Slovene Government enact a moratorium on the release of
all genetically modified organisms and on all related field experiments in agriculture. So far, the
Government has not responded.
Other Topics Concerned: Reproductive Rights