Hoechst ih

Hoechst UK Limited

Hoechst Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories

 

Walton Manor
Walton Milton Keynes

Professor Paul Berg, Bucks MK7 7AJ

Professor of Biochemistry, Telephone Pineham (090-868) 5068
School of Medicine, Telex 826033

Stanford University,

Stanford,

California, USA

 

Your ref

Date Ourret JDC:KM Date Ath July, 1978

Dear Professor Berg,

As you may know from the lst August 1978 the UK will be the first
country in the world to bring genetic manipulation under legislative
control and from next month details of all proposed work on genetic
manipulation must be notified to the Genetic Manipulation Advisory
Group (GMAG) set up by the UK Government. GMAG will advise on the
risk categorisation of the proposed study and the Government Safety
Inspectorate will check that the advice of GMAG is being followed.

I understand that you and a number of the co-signatories of your
letter of July 1974 are about to issue a statement reflecting your
current views as to the conjectural hazards that may be associated
with genetic manipulation.

I am interested to know when you expect this statement to be issued,
and I would greatly appreciate receiving a copy from you. Many of
us in the UK are concerned that the present regulations governing
the practice of genetic manipulation are hindering our research and
discouraging industrial investment in this area in the UK.

Thank you for your help.

 

Directors: N M Mischler-Chairman, D von Winterfeidt Managing, KH R Collard, Dr B W Cromie, F E Donnay. J P Dormann. H U Fintelmann, R G Howell, AJ Hughes,
K Lanz. Sir Frank Roberts GCMG GCVO. RO Simm, GH Storch Regd. in Lordon No. 432234, Regd. Office: Hoechst House Salisbury Road Hounslow TW4 6JH

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