Bieri F
Pharma Information, Basel, Switzerland.
Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 1994 Sep;16(7):491-6.
Biotechnology and gene technology are recognized by experts as invaluable and unique tools to find solutions to or improve many problems in health, agriculture and management of the environment, and are regarded as a driving economic force in the next century. They are, however, by large not accepted by the public and the discussion on gene technology is often emotional or even controversial. This situation is not favorable to a constructive and open debate. Science, economic forces and society coexist symbiotically and a broad debate on all aspects including the social and ethical issues of biotechnology is essential. A mutual understanding and acceptance are prerequisites to the democratic process of the elaboration of sound regulation and appropriate administration. To this aim, a task force was initiated in Switzerland by the pharmaceutical industry. Its goal is to provide information on relevant aspects of biotechnology and to participate in the dialogue with the Swiss public and politicians on critical issues like risk assessment, ethics, safety, novel food and legislation. A documentation service, teaching material, national poster campaign, exhibitions and debates on specific issues are the contributions of the industry to a fair information in favor of the improved background to an educated and open debate.
生物技术和基因技术被专家们视为解决或改善健康、农业及环境管理等诸多问题的宝贵且独特的工具，被视作下个世纪推动经济发展的一股力量。然而，它们在很大程度上不为公众所接受，关于基因技术的讨论往往带有情绪化甚至充满争议。这种情况不利于进行建设性的公开辩论。科学、经济力量和社会共生共存，就生物技术的各个方面，包括其社会和伦理问题展开广泛辩论至关重要。相互理解和接受是制定合理监管和适当管理的民主进程的先决条件。为此，瑞士的制药行业发起了一个特别工作组。其目标是提供有关生物技术相关方面的信息，并就风险评估、伦理、安全、新型食品和立法等关键问题，与瑞士公众和政界人士展开对话。行业提供的文献服务、教材、全国性海报宣传活动、展览以及关于特定问题的辩论，都是为了提供公正信息，以利于为有见识且开放的辩论营造更好的背景。
