As Chair of the Human Genetics committee of the Council for Responsible Genetics I especially look forward to this outlet which will not only keep us informed about the views of colleagues outside of North America on issues that concern us all but which will provide an outlet for us to circulate our thinking and policies. We look forward to the conversations and dialogues that we hope this will encourage.
- Abby Lippman, Ph.D.
Dept. of Epidemiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A2, CANADA
A review of the Biosafety Law Project (PL 2560/92 and PLS 114/91) is now proposed by two of the main Brazilian research institutions: the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ acting in the health field, and the Brazilian Enterprise of Agriculture and Cattle-Raising, EMBRAPA. The current Biosafety Law project prohibits inappropriate genetic manipulation, which includes manipulation of the human embryo, and non-authorized field trials of GMOs, in order to preserve species and the environment.
Ethics and Clinical Trials: In 1994, the National Health Council, based on Resolution 01/88, pertaining to different medical fields, empowered about 60 Brazilian research groups to conduct clinical trials involving human beings. The foundations of Resolution 01/88 are the Declaration of Helsinki and the guidelines of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The National Conference on Science and Technology in Health,held in Brasilia, October 24-28, 1994 approved the document "National Policy of Science and Technology in Health". Near 400 participants from all over Brazil and from abroad joined the Conference and the subjects of bioethics and biosafety regulations were discussed among other issues.
- Dr Marilla Bernardes Marques, Ph.D.,
Nucleo de Estudos em Ciencia e Tecnologia - NECT Ave Brasil, 4036 -sala 715 21040-361 Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL