EuropaBio ("The European Association for Bioindustries") is Europe's largest and most influential biotech industry group, whose members include leading large-size healthcare and industrial
biotechnology
Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used ...
companies. EuropaBio is located in
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
, Belgium. The organisation was initiated in 1996 to represent the interests of the
biotechnology
Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used ...
industry at the European level, and therefore influence legislation that serves the interests of biotechnology companies in Europe.
Activity and goals
EuropaBio is engaged in dialogue with the
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
, the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body ...
, and the
Council of Ministers
A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/ shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or nati ...
to influence legislation on biotechnology.
EuropaBio represents the three traditional sectors of the biotech industry.
* White or
industrial biotechnology
Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used b ...
is the application of biotechnology for industrial purposes, including manufacturing, alternative energy (or "bioenergy") biofuels, and biomaterials.
* Red or
healthcare biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for the production of medicines and therapies.
* Green or
agrifood biotechnology is a collection of technologies using plant organisms and plant cells for the production or transformation of food, biomaterials and energy.
EuropaBio's stated goals are:
* promoting an innovative, coherent, and dynamic biotechnology-based industry in Europe;
* advocating free and open markets and the removal of barriers to competitiveness with other areas of the world;
* committing to an open, transparent, and informed dialogue with all stakeholders about the ethical, social, and economic aspects of biotechnology and its benefits;
* championing the socially responsible use of biotechnology to ensure that its potential is fully used to the benefit of humans and their environment.
EuropaBio's primary focus is the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
but because of the global character of the biotech business, it also represents its members in transatlantic and worldwide forums.
Organisation
EuropaBio has a board of management made up of representatives from among its industry members. Since September 2020, Andrew Topen
Novartis
Novartis AG is a Swiss-American multinational pharmaceutical corporation based in Basel, Switzerland and
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States (global research).name="novartis.com">https://www.novartis.com/research-development/research-loc ...
is chairman of the board.
The board is assisted by sectoral councils representing the main segments of EuropaBio –
healthcare (red biotech), and industrial (white biotech).
Experts from member companies and national associations participate in EuropaBio's working groups which cover a very wide range of issues and areas of concern of biotech enterprises.
Since November 2020 EuropaBio Director General is Dr. Claire Skentelbery.
Members
In 2021, the association represents 79 corporate and associate members and
BioRegions
A bioregion is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a biogeographic realm, but larger than an ecoregion or an ecosystem, in the World Wide Fund for Nature classification scheme. There is also an attempt to use the ...
, and 17 national biotechnology associations in turn representing over 1800 biotech SMEs.
See also
*
CropLife International
CropLife International is an international trade association of agrochemical companies founded in 2001. It was previously known as ''Global Crop Protection Federation'' and started out as ''International Group of National Associations of Manufactu ...
*
European Federation of Biotechnology
The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) was established by European scientists in 1978. It is a non-profit federation of national biotechnology associations, learned societies, universities, scientific institutes, biotechnology companies ...
(EFB)
*
(EFPIA)
*
Genetically modified food controversies
Genetically modified food controversies are disputes over the use of foods and other goods derived from genetically modified crops instead of conventional crops, and other uses of genetic engineering in food production. The disputes involve co ...
*
Regulation of the release of genetic modified organisms
The regulation of genetic engineering varies widely by country. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Lebanon and Egypt use '' substantial equivalence'' as the starting point when assessing safety, while many countries such as those in t ...
Citations
References
Transforming Europe’s position on GM food - ambassadors programme executive summaryThe Guardian, Thursday 20 October 2011, Guardian News and Media Limited.
Biotech group bids to recruit high-profile GM 'ambassadors'John Vidal and Hanna Gersmann,
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
, Thursday 20 October 2011, Guardian News and Media Limited.
Draft letter from EuropaBio to potential GM ambassadorsThe Guardian, Thursday 20 October 2011, Guardian News and Media Limited.
External links
EuropaBioBiotech InformaBIOGMO Compass
{{DEFAULTSORT:Europabio
Biotechnology organizations
Lobbying organizations
Pan-European trade and professional organizations
Organizations established in 1996
Organisations based in Belgium