12 
Several committee representatives also reported on meetings with 
other interested parties whose views had been solicited on legislation 
to regulate recombinant DNA research. Those who were contacted include 
agricultural scientists, biomedical scientists, environmentalists, labor 
unions, and private industry. At my request, the Industrial Research 
Institute and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association are surveying 
their member firms to determine the scope of the research efforts in the 
private sector. The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has .endorsed 
the NIH Guidelines as standards for conduct of this research. 
In considering elements of proposed legislation, a number of issues 
were raised and discussed fully by the Committee. After detailed delib- 
erations at meetings on March 10 and 14, 1977, the Committee agreed on a 
set of elements for proposed legislation. The elements agreed upon and 
the various alternatives reviewed by the Committee were presented in an 
Interim Report transmitted to HEW Secretary Calif ano on March 15, 1977. 
Secretary Calif ano, in releasing the report on March 16, stated that 
"legislation in this area would represent an unusual regulation of 
activities affecting basic science but the potential hazards posed by 
recombinant DNA techniques warrant such a step at this time." He 
went on to say, "...I believe such a measure is necessary not just 
to safeguard the public but also to assure the continuation of basic 
research in this vital scientific area. We are not saying that research 
should be halted. We are urging that it should proceed under careful 
safeguards unless and until we have a better understanding of the 
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