15 
How do these similar, but not equal groups deal with issues? Hew do they 
divide up their responsibilities? Which committee would be the deliberating 
body? Preempted by its clone the time-honored, established, widely-respected, 
working NIH RAC could wither on the vine. 
Dr. Healy said the Domestic Policy Council Working Group on Biotechnology 
felt these concerns were legitimate. Another oversight plan was then 
developed and unanimously accepted by the working group. 
Dr. Healy said this plan is similar in intention to the plan described in 
the Deceirioer 31, 1984, Federal Register , and to quote from that document 
the objectives are: 
"...to provide expert advice on scientific issues related to the approval 
of biotechnology products and research applications; to provide a 
coordinating forum for addressing scientific problems, sharing infor- 
mation and for consensus building; to promote consistency in the 
development of agencies' review procedures and assessments; to promote 
continuing cooperation among Federal agencies on emerging scientific 
issues; and, to identify gaps in knowledge." 
Dr. Healy said the coordinating focus of this proposed overs lght system 
will be under a statutory interagency committee, the Federal Coordinating 
Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET). Dr. Healy said 
OSTP has established several FCCSET committees for issues requiring inter- 
agency coordination. The FCCSET committee for research and ccnmercial 
applications of biotechnology will be the Biotechnology Science Coordinating 
Ccmnittee (BSCC). FCCSET committees are administratively housed within 
OSIP and officially chaired by the OSTP Director although the working 
Chair is usually another Federal official. In the case of the BSCC, it has 
been suggested that the Chair might appropriately alternate between the 
directors of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the NIH. 
Dr. Healy said the BSCC will coordinate activities; it will not regulate. 
Regulatory authority resides in the regulatory agencies. 
Dr. Healy said each agency will have its own scientific review mechanism 
since each of the agencies have their own statutory obligations and responsi- 
bilities. The NIH will have its RAC; the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
will continue with a committee like its Agricultural Recombinant ENA Research 
Committee; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formed a subcommittee 
of its scientific advisory panel; and the FDA has its cwn established scien- 
tific review procedures. Each agency will be responsible for identifying 
and obtaining the appropriate scientific expertise. 
Dr. Healy said the BSCC will not review proposals but will coordinate and 
develop a consensus on interagency policy and science issues. The BSCC 
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