Will GM food ever be on Europe's menu? asks David Byrne,  former EU commissioner for health and consumer protection in Feedstuffs
The attitude of European Union member states toward the authorization of genetically modified (GM) products remains controversial. Although the European Commission is pressing to bring coherence to political decision-making in the council, a deadlock remains…It is estimated that the world's population will increase 50% over the next 40 years. This will place a huge burden on food production. GM technology is part of the solution. It is the responsibility of the EU to promote this development, not hinder it. Article here.

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EuropaBio publishes position papers as part of the Bioethics project “From GMP to GBP”
As part of the FP6 project “Fostering Good Bioethics Practices Among the European Biotechnology Industry (From GMP to GBP)” EuropaBio has published four bioethics position papers on areas germane to the biotech industry including Biobanks, Clinical Trials, Genetic Testing and Gene and Cell Therapies. The position papers are available here.

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European Commission publishes progress report on FP7; notes need for more SME participation
The European Commission has published the Communication on the progress made under the Seventh European Framework Programme for R&D (FP7). The report underlines in particular remaining challenges for the FP7 such as the mobilisation of new Member States, the rather low participation of SMEs and administrative simplification. Report here.

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SMEs 'quick path to market' for innovation reports Euractiv
A leading French expert in technology transfer has highlighted research partnerships with SMEs as an efficient way to bring innovative new products to market. In an interview with EurActiv, Dr Bruno Sportisse, from the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA), said working with SMEs may be challenging but can have a major impact. Article here.

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European Commission publishes report on co-existence
We are pleased to announce that the Commission has published the report on co-existence. As expected the report stresses that “National governments – rather than the EU – are generally best placed to identify the most effective and efficient GM coexistence measures, given local agricultural and climatic conditions” so “at the present time there is no indication of the need to deviate from the subsidiarity-based approach on coexistence” Furthermore it also indicates that the EU will continue to develop crop-specific technical guidance for GM coexistence measures. Web link here.

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Commission Directive regarding advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) approved by Standing Committee
The European Commission has just communicated that on 2 March 2009, the Member States have approved the new Commission Directive amending, as regards advanced therapy medicinal products, Annex I to Directive 2001/83/EC. The draft Directive was put to vote at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use.  The text now enters a 3-months period of scrutiny by the European Parliament and Council, before it can be formally adopted by the Commission and enters into force.

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New GMO Compass survey findings shows general acceptance of gene technology is on the increase
The findings fall under two core areas: 1) there is still a serious lack of accurate information reaching EU citizens and 2) when benefits are known the technology is supported. Click here  for more information.

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OECD publishes report "the Bioeconomy to 2030”
EuropaBio views this publication as one of the most comprehensive foresight efforts in years about our industry. It contains a wealth of strategic information of relevance to almost all our members, and will also be influential among policy makers. We expect it to become a reference of choice for anyone wanting to position policy proposals in our field. Report here.

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EuropaBio Announces

8-9 May; 5th International Greek Biotechnology Forum (IGBF); Athens, Greece