The Committee
The ECNH is an extraparlamentarian committee. It advises the Federal Council and the authorities on legislation and enforcement in the field of non-human biotechnology and gene technology from an ethical point of view.
ECNH mandate
The ECNH is mandated to monitor and evaluate from an ethical perspective developments in and applications of non-human biotechnology and gene technology. Its mandate thus covers all biotechnology and gene technology applications in animals, plants and other organisms, and their impacts on humans and the environment.
Members of the ECNH
The 12 members of the ECNH are experts in ethics from various disciplines (philosophy, theology, the natural sciences and law), representing different ethical perspectives. The chair and the members are appointed ad personam by the Federal Council for a term of four years. The Committee is independent and advises the Federal Council and the relevant authorities without being subject to instructions
Office
The Secretariat advises and supports the Committee in the fulfilment of its mandate.