Interim reply to Recommendation 1213 (1993) on developments in biotechnology and the consequences for agriculture

20 September 1993

Doc. 6927

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS

Interim Reply to Recommendation 1213 (1993)

on developments in biotechnology and

the consequences for agriculture

(adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 7 September 1993

at the 497th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)

1. The Committee of Ministers shares the Parliamentary Assembly's concerns regarding the effects of biotechnological developments, particularly in agriculture and animal husbandry, and especially about the long-term risks to ecosystems.

2. The Committee of Ministers draws attention to its Recommendation No. (92) 9, to member states on "the potential ecological impact of the contained use and deliberate release of genetically modified organisms", in which it invites governments of member states to "encourage those forms of biotechnological development, that may be conducive to sustainable development, whilst appropriate safeguards are applied in a preventive approach".

3. The Committee of Ministers has invited governments of member states to ratify the Biological Diversity Convention which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, May 1992) adopted in response to the problems of preserving the biological diversity of species and to their economic repercussions.

4. The Committee of Ministers will consider carefully the results of the Pan-European Conference on the Potential Long-Term Ecological Impact of the Spreading of Genetically Modified Organisms (Strasbourg, 24 and 26 November 1993) (project VII.3 of the Intergovernmental Programme of Activities for 1993) and in discussing the 1994 activity programme it will take into account the Assembly's proposal for a second European meeting of representatives of the world of science and ecology and representatives of all the professions and interest groups involved (paragraph 9.iii of the Recommendation).

5. It has carefully considered the suggestion to draw up a European Convention covering bioethical aspects of biotechnology applied to the agricultural and food sector (paragraph 9 vi) and has decided to request the opinion of the Steering Committee on Bioethics (CDBI) on this. It will give a supplementary reply to the Assembly on the basis of this opinion.