11 
Following the recommendations of the RAC and the USEA Recombinant DNA 
Committee, the NIH granted Drs. Panopoulos and Lindow permission to 
proceed with this field test by a notice in the Federal Register on June 1, 
1983 (48 FR 24549), on the basis that it presented no significant risk to 
health or the environment. Language indicating this permission was added 
to Appendix D of the Guidelines. 
Mr. Mitchell pointed out that no adverse comments were received in response 
to the Federal Register announcements involving this proposal. 
VII. CLOSED SESSION 
The RAC went into closed session to consider proposals from commercial 
concerns involving field testing of recombinant DNA containing organisms. 
VIII. REPORT OF TEE WORKING GROUP ON ETHICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES 
Mr. Mitchell, the Chair of the Working Group for Development of Response 
to President's Commission's Report on Ethical and Social Issues, gave a 
brief report to the RAC concerning the activities (tabs 1111, 1112, 1117/1, 
1118) of this working group. At its April 11, 1983, meeting, the RAC 
endorsed a proposal to form a working group to comment and report to RAC 
on the "Rejxart on the Social and Ethical Issues of Genetic Engineering 
with Human Beings" issued in November 1982 by the President's Commission 
for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral 
Research. The President's Commission's report entitled "Splicing Life" 
suggested continuing oversight of the field of genetic engineering is 
desirable and outlined several possible oversight mechanisms. One approach 
would be to build on the successful history of the RAC. The composition 
of RAC could be modified to that of a public-private sector body outside the 
Federal government such as those that have operated in other areas. 
Alternatively, the Federal Interagency Advisory Committee on Recombinant 
DNA could be reactivated if the extent of Federal responsibility is perceived 
to be great. 
Another format would be the creation of a Genetic Engineering Commission 
of 11 to 15 members from outside the government which could meet regularly 
to deal solely with this field. This group could have a majority of non- 
scientists and may draw on a series of technical panels to provide expertise 
in laboratory research, agricultural and environmental uses, manufacturing 
concerns, human uses, and international controls. 
Another approach would be to assign responsibility for oversight of genetic 
engineering to a body that might succeed the President's Commission. Over- 
sight of genetic engineering could be integrated into the consideration 
given to social, legal, and ethical implications of other biomedical areas. 
[195] 
