Today, on 17 June, the Government of the Republic approved members of the new Gene Technology Committee now including representatives of the Estonian Agricultural University, Tallinn Technical University and environmental organisations. Owing to the new members of the Gene Technology Committee (GTC), the Committee will be able to discuss both applications concerning a variety of genetically modified organisms and other areas among a wider range of people, making the Committee's decision-making process more transparent to the public. In addition to earlier GTC members whose number has been partially changed, the new Committee will include representatives of the Estonian Agricultural University, Tallinn Technical University and environmental organisations. The new GTC has 17 members; two them have been proposed by the Minister of the Environment, one by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, two by the Minister of Agriculture, one by the Minister of Social Affairs, two by Rector of the University of Tartu, three by President of the Academy of Sciences, one by Rector of the Estonian Agricultural University, one by Rector of the Tallinn Technical University and four by environmental organisations (the names of members are listed below). Chairman of the Committee will be elected by the members at their first meeting held on Monday, 21 June. The Gene Technology Committee is an advisory committee in the area of genetically modified organisms, the tasks of which have been provided by the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment Act. The Committee has no executive powers and decisions adopted at GTC meetings will be presented to governmental authorities by way of proposals, opinions or assessments. The positions of the Committee are advisory. The new membership of the Gene Technology Committee was approved today by signing an Order of the Government of the Republic. GTC statutes will take effect in three days after publication in the Riigi Teataja (State Gazette), presumably at the beginning of July. Further information: |
