Indicator biotechnology

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Indicator biotechnology

Activities in contained systems

Genetically modified, pathogenic and alien organisms are often used in research, such as in the development of new drugs. Since this research takes place in laboratories, greenhouses or production facilities, and the organisms are not released into the environment, they are referred to as activities in contained systems. These activities are carried out under strict safety precautions depending on the risk of the activity, so that the risk of organisms entering the environment is minimal. The number of new notifications of such activities submitted per year is a measure of Switzerland’s attractiveness as a location for research, as well as the number of organisms used in contained systems.

Assessment of the state
impossible to evaluate impossible to evaluate
Assessment of the trend
impossible to evaluate impossible to evaluate
New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2023: 29 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2022: 39 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2021: 22 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2020: 16 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2019: 16 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2018: 29 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2017: 8 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2016: 14 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2015: 20 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2014: 20 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2013: 28 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2012: 7 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2011: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2010: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2009: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2008: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2007: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2006: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2005: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2004: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2003: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2002: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2001: 0 New activities involving the use of alien organisms 2000: 0 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2023: 480 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2022: 443 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2021: 499 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2020: 472 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2019: 303 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2018: 351 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2017: 288 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2016: 298 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2015: 285 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2014: 290 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2013: 248 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2012: 218 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2011: 255 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2010: 215 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2009: 179 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2008: 207 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2007: 228 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2006: 202 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2005: 162 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2004: 124 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2003: 196 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2002: 161 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2001: 206 New activities involving the use of pathogenic organisms (POs) 2000: 213 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2023: 380 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2022: 330 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2021: 392 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2020: 255 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2019: 264 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2018: 258 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2017: 231 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2016: 221 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2015: 214 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2014: 205 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2013: 268 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2012: 135 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2011: 108 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2010: 122 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2009: 183 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2008: 229 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2007: 312 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2006: 242 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2005: 164 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2004: 148 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2003: 233 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2002: 201 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2001: 303 New activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)* 2000: 268
* From 2013, all new Class 1 reports (activities involving no or negligeable risk) are summarised in general reports
Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Federal Office for the Environment: ecogen
Class 3+4 activities in progress 2023: 168 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2022: 152 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2021: 152 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2020: 141 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2019: 167 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2018: 153 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2017: 131 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2016: 126 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2015: 117 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2014: 118 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2013: 120 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2012: 106 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2011: 113 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2010: 141 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2009: 135 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2008: 129 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2007: 122 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2006: 101 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2005: 87 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2004: 67 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2003: 63 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2002: 46 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2001: 36 Class 3+4 activities in progress 2000: 26 Class 2 activities in progress 2023: 2404 Class 2 activities in progress 2022: 2307 Class 2 activities in progress 2021: 2212 Class 2 activities in progress 2020: 2100 Class 2 activities in progress 2019: 2285 Class 2 activities in progress 2018: 2133 Class 2 activities in progress 2017: 1896 Class 2 activities in progress 2016: 1740 Class 2 activities in progress 2015: 1595 Class 2 activities in progress 2014: 1517 Class 2 activities in progress 2013: 1433 Class 2 activities in progress 2012: 1369 Class 2 activities in progress 2011: 1351 Class 2 activities in progress 2010: 1504 Class 2 activities in progress 2009: 1405 Class 2 activities in progress 2008: 1331 Class 2 activities in progress 2007: 1235 Class 2 activities in progress 2006: 1085 Class 2 activities in progress 2005: 965 Class 2 activities in progress 2004: 835 Class 2 activities in progress 2003: 716 Class 2 activities in progress 2002: 537 Class 2 activities in progress 2001: 386 Class 2 activities in progress 2000: 192 Class 1 activities in progress 2023: 564 Class 1 activities in progress 2022: 556 Class 1 activities in progress 2021: 536 Class 1 activities in progress 2020: 534 Class 1 activities in progress 2019: 662 Class 1 activities in progress 2018: 629 Class 1 activities in progress 2017: 596 Class 1 activities in progress 2016: 549 Class 1 activities in progress 2015: 522 Class 1 activities in progress 2014: 530 Class 1 activities in progress 2013: 530 Class 1 activities in progress 2012: 913 Class 1 activities in progress 2011: 1009 Class 1 activities in progress 2010: 1234 Class 1 activities in progress 2009: 1184 Class 1 activities in progress 2008: 1141 Class 1 activities in progress 2007: 1062 Class 1 activities in progress 2006: 919 Class 1 activities in progress 2005: 839 Class 1 activities in progress 2004: 771 Class 1 activities in progress 2003: 666 Class 1 activities in progress 2002: 525 Class 1 activities in progress 2001: 395 Class 1 activities in progress 2000: 186
* From 2013, all new Class 1 reports (activities involving no or negligeable risk) are summarised in general reports
Data for the graph: Excel
Source: Federal Office for the Environment: ecogen
Comment

Growth is generally considered to be desirable as it reflects the attractiveness of Switzerland as a location for research. Nevertheless, such a progression goes hand in hand with a growing use of genetically modified, pathogenic or alien organisms, and thus an increased risk of these organisms being released into the environment. However, as this risk has been held in check by security measures, we will not evaluate the current state or the development of this indicator.

International comparison

Comparable with European reporting procedures under Council Directive 98/81/EC for GMOs.

Method

Activities using genetically modified, pathogenic or alien organisms in contained systems require notification or a licence, in accordance with the Containment Ordinance. Submissions to the authorities are managed centrally by the FOEN (Federal Coordination Centre for Biotechnology) in the ECOGEN database.

 
Last updated on: 09.02.2024

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