A differentiated assessment of the future of biotechnology a perspective from an eu member state

Editorial: The Future of Biotechnology in Support of Bio-based Industries

Summary

I would like to stress that the research and development interests and programs, as well as the basic economic expectations to biotechnology, seem to be quite similar for the EU and the USA. However, with a sensitive public and a smaller structured, agricultural structure, the EU approach seems to be more cautious, based on the precautionary principle which is explicitly mentioned in various EU regulations [see e.g. 11], and taking into account the level of uncertainty with GMOs. Biotechnology is more than applying GMOs in industry or agriculture, it is a huge variety of methods and techniques waiting to be assessed and implemented, provided they are safe and useful. In addition, the remaining questions concerning the risk/safety of GMO products have to be fully assessed [12-14].

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Copyright information

© Ecomed Publishers 2004

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Environmental Impact Assessment and BiosafetyUmweltbundesamt GmbH (Federal Environment Agency)ViennaAustria

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