Ethical Aspects of Agricultural Biotechnology (1999)

Ethical Aspects of Agricultural Biotechnology (1999), ISBN 90-76110-05-0, English, 63 pp. The price of this publication is dependent on country & way of delivery and on the way of payment Details can be obtained from the Task Group on Public Perceptions

Recently, biotechnology has been brought to the forefront of public attention. Because the applications of modern biotechnology impinge upon some of the most fundamental of human situations - our health, our food, our environment, even our very nature - they raise serious ethical questions. The intention in this report has been to produce a clear, concise and balanced distillation of these studies in non-technical language for ease of understanding and use. It begins with an introductory discussion of ethical and legal questions followed by more detailed analysis of the ethical implications of biotechnological applications in the various areas. 

The report is the work of leading scientists, ethicists and experts in the patenting and regulatory fields concerned with applications of biotechnology in the agricultural and food areas from throughout Europe. The main body of the work was carried out by five Working Groups encompassing the food, industry, medicine, environment and developing countries areas with ethics, patenting, regulation (safety) and economic/political issues integrated across the five areas. It was used as working document at the European Conference held on 16-19 May 1999 in Oviedo, Spain which was organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The conference was organised with the aim for preparing the way for determining the desirability of a European Convention covering bioethical aspects of biotechnology applied to the agricultural and food sector. 

The report has been produced as part of a Concerted Action (BABAS project) funded by DG XII of the European Community. Their financial support is gratefully acknowledged.

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