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ANIMALS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY SUB GROUP
This sub-group considered the following question -
"Can current and likely future questions about biotechnology and animals, including genetic modification, be addressed by the existing regulatory and advisory machinery?"
The sub-group’s membership was as follows -
Michael Banner
Anna Bradley (Convenor)
Helen Browning
Matthew Freeman
Judith Hann
Jeff Maxwell
Ben Mepham
The group gathered information on the regulatory and advisory machinery in the UK and held informal briefing meetings with a range of experts.
A reference group recruited from the general public by MORI helped ensure that the sub-group’s work
was relevant to public concerns.
In addition, a qualitative research study was commissioned on ‘Contemporary UK Public attitudes and Sensibilities towards Animals’ to help the group understand the subtleties behind people’s complex attitudes towards animals.
Click here to view the report, Animals futures - Public Attitudes and Sensibilities towards Animals and Biotechnology in Contemporary Britain, produced by Dr Phil Macnaghten from the Institute for Environment, Philosophy and Public Policy at Lancaster
University.
Here
is the Informal review of Macnaghten study by Professor Lynn Frewer. Dr Macnagthen’s report followed on from a literature review undertaken for AEBC by Professor Glynis Breakwell,
now at Bath University, on ‘Research in the UK on public attitudes to biotechnology with animals’. Click here to view Professor Breakwell’s report.
The AEBC public meeting held in Edinburgh on 23 April 2001 focused on animals. A panel answered questions from the audience (click here to view the note of the meeting). Formal evidence on the regulatory and advisory structure was taken in July at the AEBC meeting in Birmingham (click here to view transcripts).
The sub-group tested its emerging conclusions on an on-going basis with stakeholders and its public reference group. A stakeholder seminar held in November was well attended by a range of interests. The seminar and subsequent discussions with stakeholders provided valuable evidence and influenced the sub-group’s thinking.
The group submitted a first draft report on the regulatory structure for animals and biotechnology at the AEBC meeting held on 5/6 December
(click here to view). The draft was very much a work in progress and revisions
were discussed at AEBC meetings on 6 and 7 March (click here to
view), and 17/18 July.
The AEBC published its report on Animals and Biotechnology on 3 September 2002 (click here to
view).
To view the notes of the group’s meetings click here.
To view sub-group working papers click here. These give a flavour of progress without committing the group.
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