The adenovirus-based vaccine strains ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca), Ad26.COVS1 (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) and rAd5-S-CoV2 + rAd26-S-CoV2 (SputnikV) were classified by the ZKBS in risk group 1. More detailed information can be found in the respective statement.

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Genetic engineering operations are an essential part of the research on potential therapies and vaccines against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In order to allow the start of such SARS-CoV-2-related research projects as fast as possible, the ZKBS already held two extraordinary meetings where genetic engineering operations with SARS-CoV-2 were discussed exclusively.

SARS-CoV-2 has been assigned to risk group 3 by the ZKBS (risk assessment).

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In September 2020 the ZKBS has published a commentary on Chhalliyil et al., 2020.
The Publication cannot fulfil the promise of identifying genome-edited plants.

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The 9^th Meeting of the European Advisory Committees on Biosafety (MEACB) in the field of contained use and deliberate release of GMOs took place from 6-7 November 2019 in Berlin, Germany. As a result of the panel discussion dealing with the ‘ECJ ruling in the context of the legal assessment of genome-edited plants in other parts of the world’ the majority of the present advisory committees agreed that there is a need for change of the European GMO-regulation. A joint statement of ZKBS, the Swiss EFBS and the Netherlands COGEM regarding a reasonable future regulation of the new molecular techniques was prepared and sent to the European Commission.

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In September 2019 the ZKBS has published a commentary on the identifiability of Genome Editing in plants.

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In December 2018 the ZKBS has published a statement concerning the judgment of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on plant breeding dated 25/07/2018 (case C‑528).

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The 2^nd interim report of Synthetic Biology of the ZKBS was published in June 2018. This report reviews and summarizes the international literature concerning research activities undertaken under the term of Synthetic Biology. The progress in the individual subfields is depicted and it is assessed whether these activities involve any risks to biological safety that are not covered by the German genetic engineering act or the European genetic engineering legislation.

Year of issue 20182022
Date 06.06.2018