European Biotech Act Urged to Harmonize DNA Screening for Biosecurity
A coalition of synthetic biology and health security experts are calling on the European Commission to establish standardized DNA synthesis screening practices within the forthcoming European Biotech Act, aiming to bolster biosecurity and maintain Europe’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving field.
The group, including Professor Yoshua Bengio of Université de Montréal and representatives from organizations like the International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) and Twist Bioscience, argues that current fragmented screening practices across the EU create vulnerabilities and hinder innovation. They emphasize that consistent sequence screening – verifying the genetic code of synthesized DNA – and customer due diligence are crucial for safeguarding biotechnology and preventing misuse. This comes as advancements in synthetic biology raise concerns about the potential for engineered pathogens and the need for proactive security measures.
Signatories of the joint position paper advocate for a phased approach, beginning with strengthened standards aligned with international frameworks like ISO 20688-2 and integrating screening requirements into funding eligibility for programs like Horizon Europe. They also propose incentivizing early adoption through reduced liability and preferential access to grants, eventually transitioning to mandatory compliance verified through audits. “Knowing what nucleic acid sequences are being ordered and by whom is essential for safeguarding biotechnology,” the group stated. Further alignment with initiatives in the US and UK, as detailed by the UK government, is also recommended to prevent regulatory divergence.
Officials indicated that the European Commission will consider the recommendations as it finalizes the Biotech Act, with a focus on balancing innovation with robust biosecurity protocols. The Act is expected to be a key component of the EU’s strategy to strengthen its bioeconomy and reduce reliance on external supply chains.
