Johan Vanhemelrijck nominated for Animal Pharm's Lifetime Achievement Award
It's our pleasure to announce that Dr. Johan Vanhemelrijck, our Secretary General, has been nominated as one of the five nominees for the Animal Pharm "Lifetime Achievement Award".
To support this nomination, click here.



EuropaBio launches policy paper on Biofuels
EuropaBio has released a consensus response to the “integrated energy and climate change package” proposal, endorsed by EU Heads of State earlier this year and currently discussed in European Parliament. The association sets out a policy for first and second generation biofuels.
For the EuropaBio press release, click here.
For EuropaBio's position on Biofuels, click here.

Spain creates Young Innovative Enterprise status
Spain’s Vice Prime minister, Mrs. de la Vega, has announced a strategic plan for biotech for Spain including the creation of the Young Innovative enterprise status before 2008.
For more information, contact EuropaBio's Adeline Farrelly
   

European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies to discuss ethics of animal cloning for food supply
The group's fifteen experts were appointed by the EU Commission to examine ethical questions arising from science and new technologies.  They issue Opinions to the EU Commission in connection with the preparation and implementation of Community legislation or policies. Their 17th meeting will take place on 24-26 September in Brussels, with a Roundtable debate on the afternoons of 24-25 September  concerning the ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply.
For more information, click here.



Scientists press EU to free up stem cell research
Leading scientists have called on EU countries to remove political and legislative barriers to stem cell research, asking Germany and Italy in particular to drop threats of prison sentences against researchers that take part in European projects as ethical dilemmas remain concerning the status of the human embryo.
For more information, click here.

Focusing on second generation biofuels
EuropaBio's Dirk Carrez was quoted in an article produced by the European Patent Office on biofuels entitled Fuelling a Sustainable Economy. He emphasized some strengths of first generation biofuels, but concluded that "the main focus of research at present is on what we call second-generation biofuels".
For more information, click here



New tax incentives proposals
EuropaBio and national associations in Estonia, Finland, France Norway and Sweden have published a new report on tax incentives for the biotech industry.  This report is cofinanced by the EU and is carried out as part of the EU supported YIC project. The Norwegian BioIndustry Association authored the report entitled 'Improved conditions for young innovative companies. Proposals for new business wide tax incentives' presents four country proposals (from Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden) for special tax incentives for young innovative companies (YICs). The proposals will be suitable for the biotech industry, but are suggested as general schemes applicable for all branches of industry.  The report is targeting decision makers in member states to encourage them to use tax incentives to increase access to finance for SMEs.
For more information, click here

New magazine for SMEs launched
Victoria English, former editor of The Regulatory Affairs Journal, has started a new publication for small and medium-sized enterprises in the life sciences in Europe. It contains information on funding, public policy, regulation and exclusive interviews with executives. The publication, called MedNous, is both a website (www.MedNous.com)  and a print publication. The print publication will be issued ten times per years starting in September. MedNous is being published by Evernow Publishing Ltd, a family-owned concern based in the UK.
For more information, or to send your press releases please contact Victoria English

Red tape hinders clinical trial potential in Poland
As central European countries continue to attract attention for clinical trials, Poland lags behind due to legislative processes that make registering for clinical trials a long and arduous process, according to a survey by Polish research firm PMR. However, a new report shows that changes made since the study findings were released could help fuel growth in Polish clinical trials by up to 12% this year.
For more information, click here
 

Successful media activities to counter anti-GM campaigners
In July 2007 the InnoPlanta AGIL, the Innovative Farmers’ Working Group in Germany, organized a press conference in Berlin and an information event in the Bt-countryside to counterbalance the action planned by anti-GMO activists. The press conference, involving speakers such as MPs and representatives of German agricultural cooperative, was mentioned in nearly all regional newspapers and in a number of national newspapers.
For more information, contact EuropaBio's Nathalie Moll.

Finland minister investigates GM labeling for meat
This week, Mauri Pekkarinen, the Finnish trade and industry minister, appointed a working group to study the possibility of creating an alternative food labeling system that would identify whether meat is derived from animals fed GM feed. The working group will also determine whether a Finnish label on this type of meat would be in violation of any EU regulations. The working group will submit its proposals by the end of December. Announcements by two major Finnish meat producers to start importing genetically modified feed sparked a lively public debate earlier in early August.
For more information, click here
 

Contributions of agriculture and forestry to the bioeconomy
Copa and Cogeca - the EU farmers' associations - have released a memorandum on renewable raw materials for energy and industry. The Memorandum contains proposals for an overall framework directive for renewable energies and a proposal for an action plan on the industrial valorisation of renewable raw materials.
For more information, click here