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Offers news briefs on science as of March 20, 1999. The acquittal of Laurent Fabius, former prime minister of France, and Georgina Dufoix, his social affairs minister, for negligence in their handling of contaminated blood in the 1980s; Request by health and consumer groups to the United States Food and Drug Administration to ban the routine use of antibiotics in animal feed; Action of Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in response to dioxin levels in vegetables.

The article examines a French criminal action related to a July 25, 2000 airplane accident of a Concorde supersonic jet transport. A lengthy delay between the trial's conclusion and the December, 2010 announcement of a verdict by Judge Dominque Andreassier is discussed. It has created speculation that the judge will dismiss charges against Continental Airline employees and a Concorde program manager.

Reports on the trial of former French ministers Laurent Fabius, Georgina Dufoix and Edmond Herve charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence in connection with a scandal involving HIV-contaminated blood in the Court of Justice of the Republic. How the trial was seen as a test of the court; How the court seems to have failed; All defendants freed; What the verdict means for the prosecution of politicians in France.

Editorial. Discusses the issues surrounding the trial of three former French government ministers for allegedly having delayed the introduction of measures that could have prevented the HIV contamination of blood used for transfusion. Charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence; Issue of responsibility in relation to actual information transmitted to the ministers; Reliance to expert advice; Balance of power.