Parliamentary technology assessment of biotechnologies: A review of major TA reports in the European Union and the USA

Based on a review of some major technology assessment agencies dealing with biotechnology and bioethics in the USA and five countries of Europe, this study compares the approach in the different countries. It is found that the countries of Europe have less national differences than there are between the USA and Europe. The core concern in Europe has been to promote biotechnologies without meeting too much popular resistance. In Denmark and some other European countries the will to include citizens in technological debates has led to the setting up of consensus conferences, involving a lay panel which issues a report at the end of the proces