Public Consultation on Proposed Revisions to Norway’s Gene Technology Act: An Analysis of the Consultation Framing, Stakeholder Concerns, and the Integration of Non-Safety Considerations

In Norway, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are regulated through the Gene Technology Act of 1993, which has received international attention for its inclusion non-safety considerations. 2017, Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board triggered a process to revise that included public consultation and resulted in “Proposal relaxation.” Using poststructuralist discourse analysis, we critically analyze premises processes proposal relaxation was developed—including consultation—to understand range stakeholder concerns how these shaped final proposal. We find does not include all equally. The Board’s privileging technological matters preference tier-based regulation skewed way reduced broader societal definitions marginalized discussion social, cultural, ethical issues raised by new gene technologies. To prevent such narrowing future, propose Latour’s model political economy as tool gauge openness consultations biotechnology regulation.