36 
I will now ask the next witness, Ms. Francine Simring from the Friends 
of the Earth, to whom an extra minute is accorded. 
MS. SIMRING: Since this is the first opportunity that we have had 
to have many other sectors of society speak at the NIH, including myself, I 
have felt that five minutes, even in one category, since we are not speaking 
to all categories, many of us, was not adequate to address the more than 
600 pages of materials that we have had to go through, so I would ask that 
perhaps Dr. Schwartz' time, Dr. Schwartz from the University of Michigan, 
he just spoke for a moment or two, if the gentlemen who are heading this 
meeting would allow me the extra two or three minutes, I would most appreciate 
it . 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Ms. Simring, you have six minutes, and if you want 
to extend your comments beyond that you may please do so in writing, or 
you will also be able to appear later, as you are scheduled to do so, in 
later sections. So please do confine yourself primarily, if you can, to 
the matters before this introductory section. 
MS. SIMRING: Shall I address the question Dr. Ahmed raised about 
risk-assessment? It has been puzzling to me why, although in the Federal 
Register of October of '74 the then-Director of NIH mandated that the Advi- 
sory Committee be set up, and programs of risk-assessment were mandated 
to that advisory committee. That was its main purpose, to set up experi- 
mentation programs to assess the risks. The mandate was never carried 
out. It was to be — in the Federal Register, it was listed — the basis for 
guidelines on the research. Instead, risk-assessment was not carried out, 
and guidelines were, without risk-assessment, set up. 
My question is, since we are being frank and honest here, why was 
that mandate jettisoned and never carried out? 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Are you addressing that comment to me? 
MS. SIMRING: To any of the Recombinant Advisory Committee, to yourself, 
or any other person who might be able to answer. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: Why don't you continue, Ms. Simring, and wait until 
the end, when the Committee can develop questions or further comments to you 
after you have completed your presentation. 
MS. SIMRING: Well, I won't be addressing this risk-assessment question 
in my talk, so this might be the most propitious moment for it. 
DR. FREDRICKSON: I think the record will show that you have raised 
a question about the definition of risk-assessment, and that will be taken 
into account in interpreting your further remarks. 
MS. SIMRING: I concede to your comments. 
[ 240 ] 
