The government should enact legislation to ban discrimination based on genes, according to a draft report compiled by a subcommittee of the Council for Science and Technology, an advisory panel to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
Under 20 principles spelled out in the draft, the subcommittee proposes that new legislation will be necessary to prevent discrimination against people with certain types of genes, such as those believed to cause specific illnesses.
The subcommittee, headed by Fumimaro Takaku, president of Jichi Medical School, plans to announce the draft of the basic principles involving genetic studies on Monday and a final report by April.
The Health and Welfare Ministry is currently drawing up a code of ethics concerning genetic studies conducted under the ministry's affiliated agencies, but there are no such principles adopted for other research agencies.
Once the code of ethics is completed, it would act as a "constitution" for genetic studies in Japan, according to government officials.
It also suggests the need for the informed consent of people who contribute samples for genetic studies and for stricter rules to protect the privacy of individuals.
It also says the results of genetic studies should basically be disclosed to the public.
The report also says that people should have the right to have genetic information about themselves disclosed to them or kept withheld.