Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine Honored as BIO Legislator of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, April 16, 2008) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announced today that it selected the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as a Legislator of the Year for 2007-2008. The award was presented to Dr. Bernadette Dunham, director of the CVM as part of the BIO Legislative Day Fly-In.

“The staff of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is deserving of this award for completing the most comprehensive, science-based risk assessment on livestock cloning in the world,” said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood.  “This team’s commitment and dedication is deserving of recognition for efforts in advancing biotechnology research and development.”

“With many forces working against them, the CVM remained focused on the science and worked tirelessly to complete and release the risk assessment, affirming that foods from livestock clones and their offspring are as safe to eat as foods from any animal,” said Greenwood. “BIO supports the Center’s conclusion that mandatory labels are not required in these instances, since the food products are indistinguishable.”

During the BIO Legislative Day Fly-In, more than 200 biotechnology industry representatives from 36 states will participate in hundreds of meetings with key Members of the House and Senate. Participants will discuss issues critical to the biotechnology industry, including follow-on biologics, FDA appropriations, biofuels, and patent reform.

Upcoming BIO Events

 ·   BIO National Venture Conference 
    April 22-23, 2008
    Boston, Mass.

 ·   World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing  
    April 27-30, 2008
    Chicago, Ill.

 ·   2008 BIO International Convention 
    June 17-20, 2008
    San Diego, Calif.

 ·  Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy
    Sept. 10-12, 2008
    Vancouver, B.C., Canada

 

About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

 

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