By an order issued by Federal Chancellor Schüssel on 29 June 2001, a Bioethics Commission was established at the Federal Chancellery. The constituent meeting was held on 2 July 2001.

The task of the Bioethics Commission is to advise the Federal Chancellor from an ethical point of view on all social, natural scientific and legal issues arising from the scientific developments in human medicine and human biology. This includes in particular the submission of recommendations for practical use and suggestions for enacting the necessary legal provisions as well as the preparation of expert opinions on specific issues. The Commission exercises its advisory function independently.

The Commission consists of experts in the medical field (in particular reproductive medicine, gynaecology, psychiatrics, oncology, pathology), legal experts, sociologists and experts in philosophy, theology and microbiology.

The members of the Commission are appointed for a period of two years. They may be re-appointed. The Commission is convened by the Federal Chancellor or its chairman, if necessary, and otherwise meets at least every three months.

The Bioethics Commission has published a number of General Reports on the Activities of the Commission too.

Quelle: Bioethics : Topics : Federal Chancellery of Austria.

Read their report “Gen- und Genomtests im Internet” (“Report of the Austrian Bioethics Commission on Internet-Based Genetic and Genome-Wide Testing”) here: http://www.bka.gv.at/DocView.axd?CobId=40383