The National Ethics Council, an advisory committee of the German government, has recommended that there should be a new law to safeguard against genetic discrimination of employees in Germany. But the move has stirred up controversy because, it is claimed, the guidance is unclear on what time span prognostic tests should cover.

Kristiane Weber-Hassemer, chairwoman of the committee, said that genetic tests should not be routinely used, but they should be considered, for civil servants who are in safe, lifelong jobs. …