Biosafety Considerations for New Plant Breeding Techniques

A scientific review of ‘New Plant Breeding Techniques’ recommends that they be subject to a biosafety risk assessment framework developed according to their specific characteristics. […]

Genome Editing Requires Scientific Caution and Regulation

Genome editing is an advanced GE technology that carries new characteristics and risks which current regulations on GMOs may not cover. A paper on this issue calls for scientific caution and appropriate regulations to govern the technology. […]

Altering Wild Populations through “Gene Drives” – Weighing the Risks

Engineered “gene drives” have the potential to alter the genetic composition of wild populations. Scientists have called for the potentially serious risks and regulatory gaps to be addressed before it is applied in the field. […]

Gene Silencing Products Set to Enter the Food and Feed Chain

New GE crops using an emerging technology called RNA interference (RNAi) are set to enter the food and feed supply chain. Scientists are questioning the serious lack of safety testing for this technology. […]

New Declaration Calls for Precautionary Oversight of Synthetic Biology

This global civil society declaration outlines principles that must be adopted to protect public health and the environment from the risks posed by synthetic biology, and to address the field’s economic, social and ethical challenges. […]

Scientists Build Synthetic Organism Amid Calls for Global Moratorium

As lab-made life was announced, the ETC Group calls for Global Moratorium on Synthetic Biology due to ethical concerns and the implications of the largely unknown field. […]

WHO to Ban Genetic Engineering of Smallpox Virus

The World Health Assembly has decided to ban genetic engineering experiments on the smallpox virus but postponed a decision on the destruction of the virus until 2010 […]

Open Letter to the Nanotechnology Community

A coalition of civil societies and labour organisations rejects the voluntary ‘risk assessment’ framework on nanotechnology proposed by Dupont and Environment Defense. […]

Extreme Genetic Engineering: An Introduction to Synthetic Biology

The report warns that the social, environmental and bio-weapons threats of synthetic biology could surpass the possible dangers and abuses of biotech. […]

Nanotechnology Risks Unknown

The US is the world leader in nanotechnology but it is not paying enough attention to the environmental, health and safety risks posed by nanoscale products. […]