Series "Beiträge zur Ethik und Biotechnologie"

Expert reports commissioned by the ECNH which are of interest to a wider audience are published (in the original language) in a series entitled "Beiträge zur Ethik und Biotechnologie" [contributions to ethics and biotechnology]. These reports provide a basis for consideration of the ethical aspects of biotechnology and serve as working papers for the ECNH.

Other external reports

"Synthetic nanoparticles and the precautionary principle. An ethical analysis" (pdf, 215KB)
This report (published in august 2007) is concerned with the question whether the precautionary principle should be applied to synthetic nanoparticles; and if so, what that means concerning the handling of these particles.

"Significance of "substantial equivalence" in the assessment of genetically modified foodstuffs and animal feed"  (in German; pdf, 148kB)
This study (published in February 2003) seeks to define and permit in-depth consideration of the concept of substantial equivalence. The document provides criteria for assessing the validity of the concept and its significance in current regulatory practice with regard to the safety of foodstuffs and animal feed derived from genetically modified organisms.

"Patenting genes. An ethical analysis"
This book (German abstract; published in March 2002) is based on an expert report commissioned by the ECNH in connection with the revision of the Swiss Patents Law.

"Precaution as a guiding principle in environmental ethics" (in German; pdf, 210kB)
The aim of this report, commissioned by the ECNH in July 2001, is to provide an overwiew of the key texts on the Precautionary Principle, to elaborate the essential ethical questions and, on this basis, to develop propositions serving as a foundation for the Committee's internal deliberations on the concept of the Precautionary Principle.