Committee and Section Activity

Federal Government Relations Committee
Concentrates on educating and lobbying government officials regarding legislative proposals affecting the biotechnology industry. The committee reviews the BIO legislative and regulatory agenda as a whole to set priorities and strategies; initiates BIO policy discussions regarding legislation; and provides advice and recommendations to the Board. Committee members meet with various government officials and their staffs to gain information, offer insight and advice, and buttress BIO positions. The committee collaborates on substance and formulates legislative strategy for major BIO priorities.
Staff Contact: Brent Del Monte
Chair: Walter Moore, Genentech
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Food and Agriculture Animal Acceptance and Credibility Working Group
Improves acceptance and credibility of the animal biotechnology industry. The Working Group prioritizes, implements and coordinates member company efforts regarding communications and outreach for animal biotechnology. The Working Group provides guidance to the Animal Biotechnology Policy Committee and the other animal biotechnology working groups. The Working Group liaises with the BIO Food and Agriculture Communications Advisory Group.
Staff Contact: David Edwards
Chair: Jesse Sevcik, Elanco Animal Health
Eligibility Requirements: 2

Food and Agriculture Animal Science and Regulatory Working Group
Advances BIO's policies regarding science and regulatory issues affecting the animal biotechnology industry. The Working Group manages issues associated with FDA, USDA and other federal agencies' regulations, and prioritizes, implements and coordinates BIO member company efforts. The Working Group provides expertise to the Animal Biotechnology Policy Committee and the other animal biotechnology working groups, and liaises with the Food and Agriculture Section Federal Government Relations, State Government Relations, Law, and Communications committees.
Staff Contact: David Edwards
Chair: Jerry Pommer, Hematech
Eligibility Requirements: 2

Food and Agriculture Animal Stewardship Working Group
Discusses and formulates materials for stewardship guidance in regards to animal biotechnology applications. The Working Group addresses common questions as to where to turn for regulatory guidance for developers and technology providers working in the area and distributes this information to the general public. The Working Group provides recommendations to the Animal Biotechnology Policy Committee and other animal biotechnology working groups.
Staff Contact: David Edwards
Chair: Jerry Pommer, Hematech
Eligibility Requirements: 2

Food and Agriculture Law Committee
Identifies, implements and coordinates member efforts on legal issues of interest to the Food and Agriculture Section. It provides legal expertise to support the science and regulatory, federal and state government relations, communications and international issues committees.
Staff Contact: Peter McHugh
Chair: Margaret Keating, Bayer CropScience
Vice-Chair: Eileen Gernhard, Dow AgroSciences
Eligibility Requirements: 2

Food and Agriculture Science and Regulatory Working Group
Provides a forum for developing strategic analyses and technical and practical justifications for evolving U.S. regulatory policies related to plant agriculture biotechnology, and promotes harmonization of science-based regulatory policy in the United States and in targeted countries worldwide. Manages issues associated with relevant regulations of the EPA, USDA and FDA, and engages with customer and stakeholder groups and relevant science and non-governmental organizations. This working group also provides expertise to support the government relations, communications and international issues committees. Production Agriculture Policy Committee and Emerging Plant Technology Policy Committee member company staff are eligible to participate in this working group.
Staff Contact: Adrianne Massey
Chair: Ali Scott, Bayer CropScience
Vice-Chair: Raymond Dobert, Monsanto Company
Eligibility Requirements: 2

Subcommittees:

Compliance Task Force
Staff Contact: Adrianne Massey
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Database Task Force
Staff Contact: Robert Rosado
Eligibility Requirements: 1

EPA Task Force
Staff Contact: Adrianne Massey
Eligibility Requirements: 1

FDA Task Force
Staff Contact: Adrianne Massey
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Stewardship Task Force
Staff Contact: Adrianne Massey
Eligibility Requirements: 1

USDA Task Force
Staff Contact: Adrianne Massey
Eligibility Requirements: 1