WRITTEN QUESTION E-3088/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Stephen Hawking's concern that the human race will die out as a result of accidents in biological experiments in the area of genetic engineering

1. Is the Commission aware of the statements made by the well-known British scientist, Professor Stephen Hawking of Cambridge, reported in the Daily Telegraph on 16 October 2001, in which he says that he does not expect the human race to survive on earth until the year 3000 because of the likelihood of biological accidents, which could destroy all life on earth and that he therefore sees the human race's sole chance of survival lying in its ability to spread to other planets that cannot be under threat at the same time?

2. What is the Commission's view of the fact that Professor Hawking is primarily concerned about genetic engineering which, unlike other dangerous processes, can be done in a small laboratory that is not regulated so that a virus can be created without warning and wipe us out?

3. Do Professor Hawking's statements prompt the Commission to tighten up safety measures, and their enforcement, in the sphere of genetic research by:

(a) authorising research in this sphere only under strict government regulation, where society is fully aware of the aims, methods, interests and funding of the researchers;

(b) not authorising any research in this area by organisations with commercial interests that have an interest in the results being applied rapidly, without due care or even prematurely;

(c) strict isolation of material produced by such experiments from all other forms of life;

(d) applying the results only once all the consequences of such applications in terms of changes in or the eradication of other life forms are scientifically known and the public has been informed of them by the authorities?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2002)

The Commission is aware of the declarations made by Stephen Hawking. The Commission's policy is to base its support for scientific research on institutional systems involving recognised expertise, controlled by scientific peers, and compatible with the principles of modern governance.

Public and private sector research involving genetically engineered crops is subject to Council Directive 90/219/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms(1) and Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms(3) (now amended as Directive 2001/18/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 March 2001(2)). European research projects must therefore comply with the relevant European safety legislation as implemented by the Member States. These Directives require a science-based risk assessment to be carried out prior to consent being given by a Competent Authority as well as rules for informing the public. The safety record of genetic engineering has, to date, been good and there is no evidence to suggest that the technique is inherently dangerous. As the Honourable Member will be aware, some 50 million hectares of genetically engineered crops were grown worldwide in 2001 (0,03 % of world production from the Community), with no reported evidence of adverse effects on human health or the environment.

When evaluating eligible research projects the Commission makes sure the following conditions are met:

- Potential safety implications of the project related to the methods, the objectives and the potential applications must be clearly indicated. Projects must respect fundamental safety issues of good laboratory practices and of general practices involving and handling biological agents;

- Awareness of the applicant of all relevant national and international laws, conventions, advice, guidelines and codes of conduct must be shown. Where appropriate, the explicit approval of local and national safety committees must be mentioned;

- If the project involves the use or the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the applicant must respect the European regulatory framework as indicated above;

- When relevant, applicants are required to provide all information necessary for the detailed evaluation of the ecological impact of their studies and for the assessment of technological risk, and, once a project proposal is selected, to seek, where necessary, approval from the responsible authorities. In the case of a possible ecological impact, the accuracy of the description of potential risks and of provisions taken to deal with them will be an important element in the assessment of the proposal.

Projects are subject to auditing, and to ex-post evaluations. Where the contract provisions (relating, for example, to safety) are not fulfilled, the Commission has the right to terminate the contract.

With regards to human genetics research, there is no Community competence to regulate in this field, except for the decision on adopting the four-yearly Community Framework Programme for Research and Development which is subject to a framework of ethical rules co-decided by the Parliament and the Council.

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.

(2) OJ L 106, 17.4.2001.

(3) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.