A delegation from the European Association for the Bioindustries (EuropaBio) met with European Union (EU) commissioners Günter Verheugen and Janez Potočnik to discuss the implementation of the mid-term Review of the European Strategy for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and the need to achieve a coherent biotech policy across Europe. This year, the Commission intends to update the Strategy based on an in-depth assessment of the progress made since the year of its adoption in 2002. Key topics addressed in the meeting include:

• Market access and approval system for biotech products
• Access to renewable resources at world market prices for the bio-based economy
• Adventitious Presence of GM materials in seeds and commodities
• The need for “pull measures” for biobased products in Europe
• Improving communication on green biotechnology

Steen Riisgaard, President and CEO of Novozymes and Chairman of EuropaBio, pointed out that Europe was the first to develop a Strategy for Life Science and Biotechnology. The Strategy can serve as a basis for policy makers and industry leaders to work together to support a competitive biotech industry in Europe while meeting challenges in innovative, economically prudent and environmentally friendly ways.

Read the press release at http://www.europabio.org/articles/PressStatement_EuropaBioPolicyDay_151007.pdf