The European Commission (EC) affirms its stand that the life sciences and biotechnology are making a significant contribution to the “sustainability and competitiveness of European industry and the quality of life of Europe’s inhabitants”. In a communication on biotechnology in response to the Mid-Term Policy Review of the EU's Life Science and Biotechnology Strategy, it noted that different sectors need to:

• Promote research and market development for life sciences and biotechnology applications and the Knowledge Based Bio-Economy
• Foster competitiveness, knowledge transfer and innovation from the science base to industry
• Encourage debate on the benefits and risk of life sciences and biotechnology
• Ensure a sustainable contribution of modern biotechnology to agriculture
• Improve the implementation of the legislation and its impact on competitiveness

See the full press release at http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/130&format=HTML&aged=0
&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

In a related development, EuropaBio, the European Union Association of bioindustries, called on Member States to implement the revised strategy. It noted that some countries have still not accepted biotech products and are denying farmers’ right to try the technology through crop bans.

EuropaBio’s release is available at
http://www.europabio.org/articles/PR_MTR110407.doc