INSTALLATION OF THE HIGH COUNCIL FOR BIOTECH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000603

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV ECON ETRD EU FR
SUBJECT: INSTALLATION OF THE HIGH COUNCIL FOR BIOTECH

REF: (A) PARIS 2249; (B) PARIS 11


1. (U)Summary: After much controversy, Minister for Ecology, Energy,
Sustainable Development and Regional Planning announced the
formation of the new High Council for Biotechnology(HCB). The HCB,
whose inception will be May 12, will advise the GOF on a wide range
of biotech issues. It has a dual assessment component composed of
two committees, one focusing on scientific elements and the other on
economic, ethical, and social issues. The previous authority,
composed solely of scientists, was disbanded by the GOF in lieu of a
process that gives social stakeholders a voice. One of the GOF's top
priorities for this committee is to recommend that a similar
structure for biotech evaluation be adopted at the EU level. End
Summary.

2.(U)On April 22, French Minister of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable
Development and Regional Planning (MEEDDAT) Jean-Louis Borloo
officially instituted the new High Council for Biotechnology (HCB).
A decree published in the French official journal on December 7,
2008 (REF A) provided the legal basis for its creation. All
positions have been filled, including the politically controversial
president position.

3.(U)HCB is responsible for advising the GOF on risk assessments
methodologies for the environment and public health in a wide range
of biotech issues, including genetically engineered products
(research in confined and non-confined use, and market release
authorization),genetic therapy studies, and use of veterinary drugs
derived from biotechnology. HCB will evaluate risks and benefits of
these products for public heath and the environment.

4.(U)The HCB's annual budget of one million euros will be funded by
five Ministries: Environment, Agriculture, Research, Health, and
Economy.

5.(SBU)The HCB has a unique dual assessment component composed of
two committees, one focusing on scientific elements and the other on
economic, ethical, and social issues. "France is the first country
to adopt a double assessment, scientific and ethical," said Chantal
Jouanno, Secretary of State for Ecology. The HCB is composed of 63
members, to include:

- President: Dr. Catherine Brechignac, current President of the
French National Scientific Research Center (CNRS),who is a highly
reputed atomic physicist with a reputation for independence and
scientific integrity. She is widely perceived as 'completely
neutral' toward biotech products;

- President of the scientific committee: Dr. Jean-Christophe Pages
is a virologist, member of the former Genetic Engineering Committee
(CGG) that evaluated biotech products for their confined use, and
President of the current gene therapy working group of the French
Agency evaluating risks and benefits of health products (AFSSAPS);

- President of the economic, ethic and social committee: Ms.
Christine Noiville, lawyer, specialist in biotech, risk, health,
patent, international trade and environment, bioethics law;

- 34 members on the scientific subcommittee come from a variety of
technical background to include: genetics, molecular biology,
microbiology, human and animal health, agronomy, statistics,
environmental sciences as well as law, economics, and sociology;

- The 26 members on the economic, ethical, and social committee
include individuals from the National Ethics Committee,
environmental NGOs, consumer organizations, the High Committee for
Public Health, the organization of employees of public health
entities, farm organizations, the agro-food industry, the
pharmaceutical industry, the planting seeds industry, unions of
employees of biotech companies, mayors and local government
organizations, members of the Parliament Scientific Committee, a
lawyer, a economist, and a sociologist.


6. According to the Ministry of Ecology's press release, the HCB
will commence work in mid-May with the aim of defining
"biotech-free" and providing biotech evaluation recommendations to
European authorities(REF B). The HCB has high expectations
particularly within seed companies that are unable to conduct

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biotech product field trials in 2009 due to lack of a competent
authority.

The fact that coexistence does not make the HCB's priority list
suggests biotech cultivation in France (which is effectively banned)
is not likely in the near term.


7. Comment: Given the wide range of opinions represented by the
HCB's numerous members, and the currently highly political and
mostly hostile environment around biotechnology in France, the new
authority is likely to come up with conclusions and recommendations
that attempt to satisfy a wide range of political constituencies.
This does not bode well for biotech cultivation. Recommendations on
marketing are likely to emphasize providing consumers with
process-oriented information. End Comment.

PEKALA