Bundestag Favors Compromise on Embryonic Stem Cells

The German parliament has voted to allow the importation of human embryonic stem cells that have already been produced by a certain date, but under very limited circumstances. The Jan. 30 vote in the Bundestag followed a debate that cut across party lines. In the end, 340 of 617 lawmakers who voted favored a compromise bill backed by lawmakers from the Christian Democrat/Christian Socialist Union, Social Democrats, and the Greens.

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, SPD, and CDU Chairwoman Angela Merkel both spoke in favor of allowing embryonic stem-cell imports only with tight restrictions. Another proposal up for consideration would have banned the imports outright. A third proposal would have allowed unrestricted imports and included the option -in case the imported cells turned out to be unsuitable for successful research -to allow production of embryonic stem cells in Germany by changing the Embryo Protection Act. Both of the latter proposals failed to win a majority.

"By approving this motion, we in Germany are not embarking on a separate path," Chancellor Schröder said in a speech to the parliament. "We are not going beyond the practices in other countries, neither are we disconnecting ourselves from international research."

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate and develop into all types of tissue and are being studied for their potential in treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Embryonic stem cells may offer more potential in developing treatments than stem cells taken from adults.

The vote resolves a question that had roiled the German research, ethics and political community over the past year. German law did not explicitly forbid the import of embryonic stem cells, though the derivation of embryonic stem cells is prohibited because it requires the destruction of embryos. Several German researchers sparked the debate by applying for funding for research using embryonic stem cells they planned to import. The National Ethics Council, created by the Chancellor, in November 2001 came out in favor of allowing the importation of embryonic stem cells by a vote of 14 to 9, indicating the deep divide that exists on the issue. A commission of inquiry created by the Bundestag, on the other hand, voted against allowing imports under a three-year moratorium.

The German Research Society (DFG) has stated its support in principle of research on embryonic stem cells, but planned to decide on the specific research proposals after the Bundestag vote. German Protestant Church leaders are against allowing research on human embryonic stem cells. Researchers say a complete ban on the research in Germany, through a ban on the imports, would force them to leave the country to carry out their research and would stifle biomedical development in Germany.

The differing proposals before the parliament drew supporters from across party lines, and going into the debate on Jan. 30, as many as 150 lawmakers were undecided. After more than four hours of debate, however, the compromise proposal won the needed majority.

Jan. 31, 2002

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