www.czu.cz ; www.usab-tm.ro ; www.raupp.info

Australia?s gene technology regulatory system incorporates the area of
ethics into the decision-making process through the Gene Technology Ethics
Committee (GTEC). This Committee has recently released for public
consultation a draft National Framework for the Development of Ethical
Principles in Gene Technology, September 2005.

Ethics, as it relates to gene technology, has been the focus of discussion
in the past twelve months. Last November, Agrifood Awareness Australia
Limited hosted Professor Sandy Thomas, Director, Nuffield Council on
Bioethics in Canberra to address the topic ?The role of ethics in the GM
debate?.

Australia also hosted the 7th World Congress of Bioethics in 2004. There is
no doubt that awareness of these fields is growing and ethical issues
surrounding gene technology are being explored more deeply than ever before
but, what is ethics and bioethics; how are they relevant to the gene
technology debate; and, how are they being incorporated into decision-making
processes surrounding gene technology globally?

This year, the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments have
launched a ?bioethics portal? which aims to be a gateway to information on
Australia?s bioethics related activities and initiatives. Following is an
overview of the processes in place in Australia to address the ethics of
agriculture biotechnology, and an outline of the European approach, which in
the area of consumer choice, contains certain similarities.

Complete newsletter in PDF format:
[www.afaa.com.au]

[www.afaa.com.au]

------------------------------------------
Posted to Phorum via PhorumMail