.bio

Status:	Proposed
Type:	Generic
Category:	Industry
More information:

.bio is a proposed TLD in ICANN's New gTLD Program. Starting Dot, a French-based start-up registry company is the only applicant. As a stand-alone word, “bio” means “life” generally, and as a prefix ‘bio’ precedes dozens of words ranging from biography to bioclimatology, biodegradable, biodynamics, bioengineering, biomedical, biometrics, biosystematics, biotelemetry, etc. However, “bio” means “organic”, as in organic farming, in over 10 languages covering 52 nations. Thus, to respect the European Union's standards for 'bio' /organic food, this open TLD will have regulations in place for registrants intending to use it as a space for organic food products. The rest of the non-organic related TLD will not be regulated.

The French GAC representative issued a GAC Early Warning regarding the application. The warning system is noted as a strong recommendation on behalf of national governments to the ICANN Board that a given TLD application should be denied as it stands. Applicants are encouraged to work with objecting GAC members.

The French warning notes the wide range of international standards on agricultural products and organic food, and consequently believes that the TLD can not be implemented unless it is not at all used to denote material related to organic agriculture. It warns of consumer harm or confusion if the TLD were to be implemented.

European Commission Objection

The European Commission objected to the application for .bio outside of ICANN's defined remediation processes.

Just after ICANN's GAC issued its Early Warnings, which are advice given from one GAC member country to an applicant warning it of potential issues within its application, the European Commission issued a letter to all applicants within the new gTLD program. The letter highlights 58 applications that "could raise issues of compatibility with the existing legislation .. and/or with policy positions and objectives of the European Union." It notes a desire to open a dialogue with each offending applicant.

The Commission specifically notes that this objection is not a part of the GAC Early Warning process, and goes on to note that "the Commission does not consider itself legally bound to [ICANN] processes," given that there is not legal agreement between the two bodies.

Top-Level Domain

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).