The regulation of modern biotechnology in the European Union
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71296/raap.105Keywords:
biotechnology, European Union, genetically modified organisms, synthetic biology, authorization proceduresAbstract
The evolution of modern biotechnology in recent decades has led to surprising advances that go beyond genetic engineering and are currently opening up to new developments in the field of synthetic biology. However, the rapid expansion of these technologies does not match with the incomplete international legal framework. In the European Union (EU), especially, the use of these technologies has raised important reservations, which are reflected in the development of a particularly restrictive regulatory framework. This paper presents some of the most significant characteristics of the authorization procedure in the EU for the release of GMOs, a centralized procedure anchored in the precautionary principle, while addressing the margin of discretion of the Member States with respect to this crops. From there, the paper intends to identify some issues raised by the fit of new biotechnological developments, in particular, synthetic biology, in the current EU regulatory framework.
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