New board to advise EU on ethics of biotechnology
RTw 31.12.97 13:52
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BRUSSELS, Dec 31 (Reuters) - A new international committee was
set up on Wednesday to advise the European Union on ethical
questions raised by developments in biotechnology, science and
new technology, according to a European Commission statement.
The views of the new European Group on Ethics, Science and
Biotechnology will help the European Commission -- the EU's
executive body -- to draft new EU laws.
The group of 12 lawyers, biologists and human science professors
replaces the nine-member European Group on Ethics and
Biotechnology set up in 1991 to advise the Commission on issues
raised by advances in biotechnology.
The issues include the cloning of animals like Dolly the sheep or
the genetic engineering of plants used for food.
While biotechnology will be one of its main concerns, the group
will have a wider brief than its predecessor, a Commission
spokeswoman said.
It will examine other areas which could have a great impact on
people's daily life such as the development of the worldwide
computer network, the Internet, and other aspects of information
technology.
Seven of the experts on the new advisory panel, who come from 12
different EU countries, belonged to the earlier body, including
its French chairwoman, lawyer Noelle Lenoir.
REUTERS