Research Council recommended guidelines to govern the handling of recombin- 
ant DNA molecules in Council-supported research. The Council adopted these 
guidelines in February 1977. Many other nations have also reviewed 
recombinant DNA activities to determine the measures necessary for safety. 
With the urging of regional and international bodies, however, most have 
adopted the NIH or U.K. Guidelines as a basic framework for safety 
practices and procedures. 
B . Regional Scientific Organizations 
The European Molecular Biology Organization, the European Science 
Foundation, and the European Medical Research Councils ( EMRC) have been 
instrumental in closely coordinating recombinant DNA research activities 
in western Europe. All three have worked closely to promote a commonality 
of safety practices and procedures to govern recombinant DNA research 
activities. With the support of these organizations, scientific technical 
committees have been created in the western European countries to serve 
as a focus for coordinating and monitoring all recombinant DNA activities 
within each country. Many of these bodies function in the manner of 
the United Kingdom’s Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group, which is respon- 
sible for reviewing all recombinant DNA research to ensure that the 
projects conform to appropriate safety standards and practices. 
Research is also being conducted in the eastern European countries and 
the Soviet Union. They are considering the adoption of safety practices 
comparable to those specified in the U.K. or NIH Guidelines. The U.K. 
or NIH standards serve as a model to govern recombinant DNA research under 
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