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Lohse S, Wasmer MS, Reydon TAC. Integrating Philosophy of Science into Research on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in the Life Sciences. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1162/posc_a_00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
This paper argues that research on normative issues in the life sciences will benefit from a tighter integration of philosophy of science. We examine research on ethical, legal and social issues in the life sciences (“ELSI”) and discuss three illustrative examples of normative issues that arise in different areas of the life sciences. These examples show that important normative questions are highly dependent on epistemic issues which so far have not been addressed sufficiently in ELSI, RRI and related areas of research. Accordingly, we argue for the integration of research on the epistemic aspects of the relevant areas of science into ELSI research to provide a better basis for addressing normative questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Lohse
- Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences (CELLS) and the Institute of Philosophy, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin S. Wasmer
- Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences (CELLS) and the Institute of Philosophy, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas A. C. Reydon
- Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences (CELLS) and the Institute of Philosophy, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
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Eriksson D, Kershen D, Nepomuceno A, Pogson BJ, Prieto H, Purnhagen K, Smyth S, Wesseler J, Whelan A. A comparison of the EU regulatory approach to directed mutagenesis with that of other jurisdictions, consequences for international trade and potential steps forward. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 222:1673-1684. [PMID: 30548610 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
A special regulatory regime applies to products of recombinant nucleic acid modifications. A ruling from the European Court of Justice has interpreted this regulatory regime in a way that it also applies to emerging mutagenesis techniques. Elsewhere regulatory progress is also ongoing. In 2015, Argentina launched a regulatory framework, followed by Chile in 2017 and recently Brazil and Colombia. In March 2018, the USDA announced that it will not regulate genome-edited plants differently if they could have also been developed through traditional breeding. Canada has an altogether different approach with their Plants with Novel Traits regulations. Australia is currently reviewing its Gene Technology Act. This article illustrates the deviation of the European Union's (EU's) approach from the one of most of the other countries studied here. Whereas the EU does not implement a case-by-case approach, this approach is taken by several other jurisdictions. Also, the EU court ruling adheres to a process-based approach while most other countries have a stronger emphasis on the regulation of the resulting product. It is concluded that, unless a functioning identity preservation system for products of directed mutagenesis can be established, the deviation results in a risk of asynchronous approvals and disruptions in international trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Eriksson
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 101, 230 53, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Drew Kershen
- College of Law, University of Oklahoma, 300 Timberdell Road, Norman, OK, 73019-5081, USA
| | - Alexandre Nepomuceno
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Cooperation - Embrapa, Brazilian Biosafety Technical Commission - CTNBio, PO Box 231, ZIP 86001-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Barry J Pogson
- Global Plant Council and ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Humberto Prieto
- Biotechnology Laboratory, La Platina Station, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Santa Rosa 11610, La Pintana, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Kai Purnhagen
- Law and Governance Group, Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Rotterdam Institute of Law and Economics, Law School, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Burg. Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stuart Smyth
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Sask., S7N 5A8, Canada
| | - Justus Wesseler
- Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group, Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Agustina Whelan
- Biotechnology Directorate, Ministry of AgroIndustry, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National University of Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
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