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OECD Conference Reaffirms Role of Science in Biotechnology Debate
For Immediate Release Contact: Ronnie Goldberg,
USCIB – tel: 212-354-4480
Edinburgh, March 1, 2000--The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) announced its support for the international consultation process on genetically modified foods at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Conference on the Scientific and Health Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods, held in Edinburgh, February 28th to March 1st, 2000.
“The OECD has done valuable work in the context of biotechnology over the past 20 years,” said USCIB President Thomas M.T. Niles. “The Edinburgh Conference has established that the OECD will continue to play an important role in the development of policy recommendations in the international governance of products of biotechnology. The USCIB is confident that the Edinburgh Conference has made a substantial contribution to fulfilling the G-8 request to ‘undertake a study of the implications of biotechnology and other aspects of food safety.’ ”
As the U.S. affiliate of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD, the USCIB will continue to collaborate with the OECD and other interested parties by lending industry expertise, sharing information and actively participating in the ongoing policy-making process. The USCIB recognizes the need for the dialogue on biotechnology to remain science-based, as was underlined by the participants at the Edinburgh Conference. While industry acknowledges that the concerns of society go beyond science, scientific understanding and sound scientific principles should remain at the core of public policy and regulatory decisions governing the use of biotechnology. The substantial and important role of science was reconfirmed by many Conference participants this week.
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