Terms of Reference

The National Commission for Bioethics and Technoethics is an independent advisory body of the State in the fields of life sciences and new technologies in general. Its mission is to explore the ethical, social and legal dimensions and consequences, particularly, in the fields of biology, biotechnology, medicine and genetics, as well as new technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced algorithms and robotics.

The Commission has the following responsibilities, in particular:

(a) Makes recommendations for comprehensive policies and specific actions, as well as relevant guidelines and opinions on issues related to its mission,
(b) represents the country in international organizations on issues related to its mission;
(c) develops initiatives to raise public awareness of issues related to its mission;
(d) participates in law-making Committees on issues related to its mission or gives an opinion on relevant provisions, before their submission;
(e) examines the adaptation of national law to international and EU law and proposes arrangements for matters relating to its mission;
(f) prepares and submits reports in accordance with Article 34;
(g) sets up working groups on issues related to its mission, consisting of specialized staff of the public sector or private experts, defines how they are organized and operate, and monitor their work; and
(h) organizes events on issues related to its mission.

These responsibilities, as well as the other terms of reference of the Commission are provided for in the founding law. The Commission is supported, in terms of staffing and infrastructure, by the Presidency of the Government and is part of its budget, as a separate special body."