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European Commission authorises 3 GM maizes and 1 GM sugar beet
On October 24^th, the European Commission approved four GM products (GM Maizes 1507xNK603; NK603 x MON810; and 59122 Herculex RW and GM sugar beet (H7-1)) for feed and food use and for import and processing.  The last product to have been approved before this under the new Commission for food and feed use and import was GM Maize 1507 in March 2006.  For more information click here.

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Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs Ministerial Order (MO) prevents one biological medicine being automatically substituted for another
EuropaBio welcomed the new Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs  Ministerial Order (MO) that prevents one biological medicine being automatically substituted for another. The Order demonstrates the Spanish authorities’ recognition that biological medicines are complex and cannot be automatically substituted for administration to patients. For more information, click here to view EuropaBio’s Press Release.

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CODEX steps closer to establishing an international standard for Low Level Presence
The members of the Codex ad hoc Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology held their meetings during the last week of September and agreed to a proposal addressing the risk assessment of low-level presence of biotech plant materials, found in food or feed, which have been authorised in one or more countries but not yet in the importing country. If approved by the CODEX Commission next July, this will be incorporated in the Codex Plant Guidelines as an annex including information-sharing mechanisms. To see EuropaBio’s press release following the CODEX meeting, please click here.

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Vice President Verheugen and Commissioner Potocnik met with CEOs and Board Members of EuropaBio Member Companies at EuropaBio Policy Day
Commissionners Verheugen and Potocnik along with senior members of their Cabinets and DGs met  with EuropaBio members at EuropaBio’s Policy Day held on October 16^th. Vice-President Verheugen called for increased coordination of biotechnology among the Commission’s DGs and Commissioner Potocnik underlined the important role that FP7 and the JRC can play in supporting the biotech industry. For more information, please contact EuropaBio’s Dirk Carrez, d.carrez@europabio.org.

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Future of clinical trials in Europe: EuropaBio delegation attends EMEA/EU Commission event in London
A delegation from EuropaBio attended a joint EMEA (European Medicines Agency)/European Commission event in London on the status of clinical development in Europe and on the evaluation of the Clinical Trials Directive in practice in the member states in London. Contributions from stakeholders led to a broad understanding of the issues and helped to identify hurdles making Europe less attractive for clinical trials. To view EuropaBio’s press release, click here.

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Commissioner Verheugen looks to SMEs as “key for delivering more growth and jobs”
Gunter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry, spoke at the high-level SME stakeholder conference in Brussels on 14 September. To view the speech, please click here.

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EuropaBio’s Dirk Carrez quoted in biofuels article: Fuelling a sustainable economy
Biofuels were all the rage during the 1970s oil crisis. But when the price of oil came down, they were marginalised. Today, with looming climate change and energy troubles, biofuels are back in fashion - this time destined for the mainstream. To view the article, please click here.

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EuropaBio news feed shows the 10 most recent articles in the world’s press citing EuropaBio
An automatic newsfeed on EuropaBio’s website shows the 10 most recent articles in the world’s press citing EuropaBio. It’s update daily. Check it out at: http://www.europabio.org/PRNewsfeed.htm
 

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