Title: Dutch roads to a socially acceptable gene technology

Authors: Dirk Stemerding, Jaap Jelsma

Addresses: Department of Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. Department of Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract: We discuss two examples of Dutch policy making which were developed in the early 1990s. Both attempts can be seen as an extension of the scope of a policy of regulation in response to public concerns about developments in the field of gene technology. The first example relates to legislation introduced in the context of the Dutch Animal Health and Welfare Act. The second example relates to an institutional intervention. It concerns the activities of a Consumer and Biotechnology Foundation established in 1991. Both examples are discussed in the context of particular limitations which characterise current forms of decision making in society with regard to issues of social acceptability of (gene) technology.

Keywords: biotechnology; acceptability; ethics; regulation; networks; innovation; constructive technology assessment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2003.002113

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2003 Vol.5 No.1, pp.47-57

Published online: 20 Jul 2003 *

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