New York Consolidated Laws, Public Health Law - PBH § 3220. Findings

The legislature finds that new techniques of genetic manipulation which allow researchers to accomplish exchanges of genetic material between unlike organisms offer great potential for expanding human knowledge of genetics but also may present significant risks to public health, to the environment and to the health of research workers.  These experiments are being conducted at research institutions in New York, including universities, hospitals and industrial facilities.  Industry plans to mass-produce recombinant organisms should such organisms be found to have commercial uses.  Such research and production should only be conducted under safe conditions as prescribed by the commissioner.