The rapporteur, Mr ROTHLEY, supported the draft text of the Directive, stating that it provided adequate guarantees and would fill the current legal vacuum. However, in spite of the rapporteur’s position, most of the political groups rejected the joint text, pointing out that the proposed legal framework did not provide adequate protection of the fundamental values of the individual. Commissioner Monti confirmed the commitment made at the meeting of the Conciliation Committee on the ‘farmer’s privilege’ and warned that rejection of the text by the EP would prevent the establishment of guarantees for respect for human dignity and the introduction of the farmer’s privilege. He also felt that the joint text was a good compromise as the ban on patenting elements of the human body as such and the modification of genetic identity was included not only in the recitals but also in Article 2 of the joint text. In his view, rejection of the text would leave the EU lagging behind Japan and the United States in the area of biotechnological research. His position was not supported.