User:Wilfred J. Poppinga/Notebook/Wilfreds Project/2009/08/28

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Miscellaneous

 * Notify press (michael)
 * ✅ Make a4 province Groningen
 * SAFETY
 * Province Fryslân
 * Waterschap


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"Synthetic biology is currently attracting much interest, probably because some researchers are making exciting claims about the potential applications of synthetic organisms, for which the sky appears to be the limit. Whether these high expectations will ever be met remains questionable. But the fact remains that various organisations have been spurred on to examine this mater in more depth. The House of Representatives has also considered the subject and the environment minister has asked COGEM several questions. The minister has asked COGEM to report, among other topics, on the suitability of the current GMO risk analysis for applications of synthetic biology (particularly synthetic organisms), the monitoring of developments within the research field and the ethical and societal implications of synthetic biology. She has also asked COGEM how government can best facilitate public discussion about this technology."

Dutch Legislation


The legislation around biotechnology in the Netherlands is largely build around European guidelines and decrees. The main subjects in this legislation is to guarantee: Working with genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in the Netherlands is prohibited without a permit. The Ministry of housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment grants these permits, on grounds of the decree Genetically modified organisms, as it is the primary authority on this subject. The decree Genetically modified organisms is supplemented by the  sanction Genetically modified organisms containing specifications for rules, general safety precautions and facility and workrequirement. However the lab facility should also follow the decree for arrangement- and permits environmental management.  The Ministry of housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment shares its responsibilities with the Dutch ministries of:
 * Safety of humans, animal and environment
 * Protecting the consumer and fair trade


 * Health, Welfare and Sport,
 * Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality,
 * Economic affairs,
 * Education, culture and science,
 * Foreign affars
 * Justice

All represented in the Interdepartmental consultation Biotechnology, where actual affairs and progress of biotechnological projects are discussed.

Technical-scientific advice on the issues concerning the risks for humans and environment with applicaitons of GMO's is given by The Dutch Committee on Genetic Modification (Cogem) who also gives advice on the safety precautions to take to protect them against those risks. Cogem also gives information on the ethical- and society issues on genetic modification. Cogem already reviewed the Synthetic biology in the Netherlands: [http://www.cogem.net/ContentFiles/CGM080925-01-Biological%20machines1.pdf Biological machines? Anticipating developments in synthetic biology]

University of Groningen
Within the University of Groningen the organization of biological safety, including all activities that are carried out with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is the legal responsibility of the Board of the University of Groningen. The University Board thus acts as the notifier in all GMO-related research where notification is required. The Faculty Boards have been mandated by the Board of the University to implement the rules as set out in the GMO Regulations within their own faculty.

Within the University of Groningen, biological safety is ensured on the central level by a biological safety organization comprising the biological safety officers (BSO) as well as a staff member of the Health, Safety and Environment Service (HSE). The HSE coordinates the notifications, maintains the register and, in cooperation with the BSO, advises the Faculty Boards and the University Board in the field of biological safety. The central organization is complemented on the local level by responsible officers.

BSO officers are appointed by the University Board on the recommendation of the Faculty Boards. In order to be considered for this position, BSO officers must have been approved by the The Ministry of housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment on the basis of the qualifications as set out in the GMO regulations. BSO officers are members of the staff office and can report directly both to the University board and their own faculty.

For each project a responsible officer will be appointed by the University Board on the recommendation of the Faculty Board. This officer is responsible for various aspects, including day-to-day matters concerning the activities involving genetically modified organisms.

=Floating metal uptaking bacteria=
 * [Aarhus convention] Daarin staat dat landen binnen hun eigen wetgeving, daar waar mogelijk en toepasbaar, het publiek moeten betrekken bij de besluitvorming over de introductie in het milieu van ggo's. Nederland voldoet aan dit lid, omdat bij de introductie in het milieu van ggo's de Algemene wet bestuursrecht van toepassing is. Deze wet regelt de inspraak van burgers in bestuurlijke besluitvorming.

Floating metaluptaking bacteria in drinking water

 * Would any of your project ideas raise safety issues in terms of:
 * researcher safety,
 * public safety, or
 * environmental safety? European Dutch
 * Do any of the new BioBrick parts that you made this year raise any safety issues?
 * If yes, did you document these issues in the Registry?

Onderzoekers moeten voordat met biotechnologie aan de slag gaan de risico’s in kaart brengen. Dat heet een risicoanalyse. Ze kijken dan naar:

wat de mogelijke ongewenste gebeurtenissen zijn die kunnen optreden; wat de kans of de waarschijnlijkheid is dat die ongewenste gebeurtenissen optreden; welke maatregelen ze kunnen nemn om die kans te verkleinen en om de gevolgen te beperken.

Of een risico aanvaardbaar is, berust in de eerste plaats op de resultaten van dit onderzoek. Daarnaast kunnen zij andere dingen laten meetellen, zoals de voordelen of de gevoelens in de samenleving zijn. Deze overwegingen zijn belangrijk, maar zijn geen deel van het onderzoek. Ze komen pas aan bod na de risicoanalyse. Deze analyse is in de Nederlandse wet opgenomen. Het staat in het Besluit genetisch gemodificeerde organismen. 

Lead in drink water platinum mercury GMO food GMO food2 GMO food3 RIKILT/RIVM, het onafhankelijke Nederlands voedselveiligheidsinstituut

=Further reading=
 * Synthetic Biology:SB2.0/Biosecurity resolutions

Global legislation

 * Convention on biological diversity
 * Cartega (Biosafety) Protocol
 * Aarhus Convention
 * Aarhus Convention

European legislation

 * Regulation (EG) nr. 1830/2003: Traceability and labeling GMO's and traceability GMO produced food and feed.
 * Regulation (EG) nr. 1829/2003: Genetically modified food & feed
 * Regulation (EG) nr. 1946/2003: Transport of GMO's accross borders.
 * Directive 2001/18: Introduction of GMO's in the environment.

Dutch legislation

 * Dutch legislations regarding biotechnology
 * Bacteria & antibiotic-resistence
 * Dutch Biotechnology Policy (2000)
 * Waste disposal

=Involved organisations=

International organisation
The Biosafety Clearing-House

National organisation

 * Biosafety bibliographic database
 * The Association BVF Platform
 * GMO’s in the environment
 * Bureau of GMO’s
 * Committee on Genetic modification<BR>
 * The Ministry of housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment
 * biotechnology
 * Dutch society for microbiology<BR>

Institutional organisation

 * Biosafety at the University of Groningen<BR>

<a href="http://www.cogem.net/page.ocl?pageid=46&loc=5&version=&mode="><img src="http://www.cogem.net/images/logo1.gif"></a> http://www.rug.nl/bureau/expertisecentra/amd/milieu/milDataPicture/logoMilieu.gif http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/GSchwab/photos/628423/3logo1.gif http://www.rug.nl/Bureau/expertisecentra/amd/milieu/milDataPicture/logoBioHazard.gif


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