Resignations of various members of the SECB and new elections

At the end of the term of office, we are saying goodbye to several members of the SECB. We thank Angelika Hilbeck, Philipp Hübner, Beatrice Lanzrein, Paul Mäder, Barbara Oppliger, Doris Rentsch and Peter Stamp warmly for their tireless work and their huge commitment to the SECB.

As of 1. January 2012 the Federal Council appointed the following new members to the Committee: Dirk Dobbelaere, Eric Dumermuth, Urs Klemm, Brigitte Mauch-Mani, Monika Maurhofer, Kathrin Mühlemann and Nicola Schönenberger. We welcome the new members to the SECB and wish them great success and enjoyment in this important work.

Risk assessment of activities using oncogenic and cytokine-encoding sequences

This recommendation of the SECB has been revised and provides guidance on the classification of work with oncogenic or cytokine-encoding nucleic acid sequences and the application of adequate safety measures.

Recommendation risk assessment of activities using oncogenic and cytokine-encoding sequences

Programme for Monitoring the Impacts of Streptomycin Use in Fire Blight Control 2008-2011

In January 2008, the antibiotic streptomycin was approved for the first time in Switzerland  for treatment of fire blight in orchards. The approval was granted for 2009, 2010 and 2011. Its use is contingent on various conditions. For example, monitoring is required. The Swiss Expert Committee for Biosafety SECB believes it is essential that in addition to studies on the development of resistance in Erwinia amylovora (the causal agent of fire blight), other issues be taken into account as well. In cooperation with various federal agencies, research institutions, and other experts, SECB has therefore launched an interdisciplinary monitoring project. The main purpose of this programme is to gain an objective assessment of the real risks of streptomycin treatments using state of the art scientific methodologies.

Monitoring Programme Streptomycin

The Swiss Expert Committee for Biosafety (SECB), a permanent federal advisory committee, advises the Federal Council and the federal agencies on the drafting of laws, ordinances, guidelines and recommendations.

It advises the federal and cantonal authorities on the enforcement of these regulations.

It issues statements on licence applications and publishes recommendations on safety measures for studies using genetically modified or pathogenic organisms.