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BIO Applauds Enactment of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 28, 2006) -- Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), today thanked President Bush for signing the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (S. 3880) into law. The act expands criminal prohibitions against the use of force, violence, and threats involving animal enterprises and increases penalties for violations of these prohibitions. Greenwood released the following statement:

“BIO and its members applaud the President and Congress for taking this important step to protect researchers and scientists from terror tactics employed by animal rights extremists. Biotechnology has great promise to transform the world ¯ and until today’s enactment of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, that promise was increasingly threatened by animal rights extremists.

“Activists’ campaigns against biotechnology companies have been strategic, specific, unrelenting, and directed toward delivering economic, and sometimes physical, damage to companies engaged in innovation for life-threatening diseases. The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act finally gives prosecutors and law enforcement officials the tools they need to counter the increasingly violent tactics of animal terrorists. Our industry has zero tolerance for animal rights extremists ¯ whose true victims are the millions of men, women, and children who are being denied new cures and treatments to their illnesses.

“The biotech industry is committed to the responsible use and care of animals in biomedical research. In February 2005, BIO adopted a Statement of Ethical Principles for the Care and Use of Animals in Biotechnology Research that reflects our industry’s commitment to proper stewardship of animals for all applications for animals ¯ from biomedical research for pharmaceutical development to agricultural research to improve animal health and food production.

“The enactment of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act demonstrates that the ability to conduct humane and responsible animal-based research must be preserved to help conquer disease, alleviate suffering, and improve the quality of life. Ethical animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century ¯ for both human and animal health. This research is invaluable in the development of life-preserving treatments for people, as well as cats, dogs, farm animals, wildlife, and endangered species.”

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

Upcoming Events

BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2007
Feb. 12-14, 2007 New York City

2007 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
March 21-24, 2007 Orlando, Fla.

BIO International Convention
May 6-9, 2007 Boston

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