Geneva, 27 October 2025

The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) welcomes the recent Nature Biotechnology op-ed, “A strong EU Biotech Act is vital for Europe’s synthetic biology industry” by James Diggans (Twist Bioscience, US) and Wladimir Labeikovsky (Ribbon Bio, Austria).

In their article, Diggans and Labeikovsky underscore the critical role of robust, harmonised standards for DNA and RNA synthesis screening in enabling safe innovation and protecting Europe’s growing bioeconomy. They highlight that while synthetic nucleic acid technologies are transforming health, agriculture, and manufacturing, fragmented or uneven regulations risk undermining both biosecurity and industrial competitiveness.

Their message echoes IBBIS’s long-standing position: that mandatory, interoperable screening across the EU Single Market, anchored in clear legislation such as the forthcoming EU Biotech Act, is essential to reduce regulatory fragmentation, strengthen supply chains, and reinforce public trust.

At a time when AI is accelerating design capabilities and lowering technical barriers, the need for comprehensive, enforceable sequence and customer screening frameworks has never been greater. The authors’ call for EU-wide action aligns closely with IBBIS’s international efforts to promote adoption of common standards, including ISO 20688-2:2024 and the International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) guidance, and to develop practical implementation tools for industry.

IBBIS commends this contribution from industry leaders and welcomes continued dialogue with EU policymakers, companies, and research institutions to ensure that the EU Biotech Act becomes a driver of safe, responsible, and globally competitive biotechnology.

For more on IBBIS’s work to advance global screening standards and biosecurity norms, visit our International Standards Initiative or contact sophie@ibbis.bio