The European Parliament recently intervened on the question of biotechnologies, the ‘patentability’ of human cloning and research on stem cells. On 26 October the EP adopted a “resolution” that underlines the importance of these areas of research, but at the same time stresses the legal uncertainty about whether or not some applications can be patented. The text, approved by a large majority, states among other things that biotechnology represents “one of the most important technologies for the future”; that’s why it “must be supported by a suitable political framework that also takes into account the ethical, environmental and healthcare aspects”. Many observations follow. For example, the resolution reaffirms the EU prohibition on processes that entail the destruction of human embryos, clarifying that this term comprises the “embryonal phase”. The cloning of human beings is also prohibited. MEPs further express “deep apprehension” about any project “aimed at introducing methods for the selection of the sex of human beings”.
