Toi Te Taiao: The Bioethics Council
One of the major recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was the establishment of this Council. The Council is to be established later this year. This article provides an overview of its structure and operations.
The Council’s goal will be to enhance NZ’s understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and ensure the use of biotechnology has regard for the values held by NZers. There are three main roles that relate to that goal:
- providing independent advice to government on biotechnological issues that have a significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimension;
- promoting and participating in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council’s activities.
Although appointments are yet to be made to the Council, Sir Paul Reeves has accepted the position of Chair. The Council will have eight or nine members who are respected leaders in their fields, with experience in science (especially biotechnology, ecology and social science), tikanga Maori and Maori development.
The Council will function as a Ministerial Advisory Committee reporting to the Government through the Minister for the Environment. It will be independent from government, set its own work programme, and communicate freely its activities and findings. The Council will be reviewed after two years to see if it is working effectively.
Although the Council is an independent body, it will develop links to government agencies, the biotechnology sector and the public. It is expected to co-ordinate with other advisory and decision-making bodies concerned with ethics and values, and to establish links with similar international bodies.
In line with the Royal Commission's recommendations, the Council’s guidelines or recommendations will not be binding and the Council will not be a decision-making body.
Information: Steve Vaughan, tel (04) 917 7404, email steve.vaughan@mfe.govt.nz |
Thanks to “Environmental Update”
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