The European Parliament adopted a resolution in favour of streamlining the regulation of the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors in the EU by 494 votes to 83, with 71 abstentions, at its plenary session in Strasbourg on Thursday 10 July (see EUROPE 13667/19).
MEPs called for increased investment to foster innovation and growth in these areas, and stressed their strategic importance for competitiveness and sustainability.
They urge the European Commission, as part of the reflection on a future EU Biotech Act, to ensure the coherence of all legislative measures affecting these sectors in order to facilitate the effective scaling-up and commercialisation of research and development results.
Lastly, Parliament advocated responsible access to synthetic biology tools and genetic engineering technologies. The institution urged the EU to close existing biosafety loopholes.
“Europe must not just follow in biotech – we must lead”, commented rapporteur Hildegard Bentele (EPP, German).
Read the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/htl (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)