The International Law of Biotechnology

'Biotechnology will shape, together with information technology, much of the technological advances in the 21st Century. It affects all walks of life and bears potentials and risks. In international and European law, different areas of law touch upon it without much coherence. Written by a foremost expert, this book makes a most valuable contribution, expounding the interfaces of the different regulatory areas and offering a comprehensive and timely treatise on the subject.' --Thomas Cottier, Chairman ILA Committee on the Biotechnology, UK'This book by Matthias Herdegen provides a unique, thoughtful and comprehensive discussion of the interaction between biotechnologies and international law. Unlike other books in the field, which tend to be confined to biomedical issues, this book covers a broad spectrum of topics, including questions related to environmental protection, risk assessment, genetically modified foods, international trade, and gene patenting. It combines theoretical reflection with the analysis of relevant international instruments and courts judgments.' --Roberto Andorno, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Matthias Herdegen, University of Bonn, Germany

Contents: 1. Introduction: Regulation of Biotechnology, between Anxieties and Trust in Scientific Progress 2. Law and Ethics: An Intriguing Interplay 3. Risks, Perceptions and the Law: Regulatory Approaches to Risk 4. The Biotech Challenge to Human Dignity, Life and Freedom of Choice: Human Rights 5. From Test Tube Babies to Human Clones: Salient Issues in the International Law of Biomedicine 6. GMOs, Crops and Precaution: Biotechnology and the International Protection of the Environment 7. Combating Biopiracy: Access to Genetic Resources 8. Phantom Risks and Legitimate Concerns: Biotechnology and International Trade Law 9. Inventor's Claims to Life: Intellectual Property Rights and Biotechnological Inventions 10. Conclusion: Legal Values, Individual Rights and Democratic Choices in a Pluralist World Index