U.S. says countries 'long way' from biosafety pact
Date: 28-Jan-00
Country: CANADA
"I don't want to be excessively upbeat about this," Frank Loy,
undersecretary of state for global affairs, told reporters during a
break in the talks. "We're a long way from having an agreement."
Tough issues remained in a number of areas, including the desire of many
countries to incorporate language that could allow them to restrict
imports of genetically modified crops. The United States does not have a
vote in the negotiations but has worked with other farm-exporting
nations to keep markets open to genetically modified crops.
The United States also still wants language somewhere in the proposed
biosafety protocol that makes clear that it does not override World
Trade Organisation rules, Loy said.
Loy spoke to reporters after negotiators finished an open plenary
session to discuss progress in the talks. Agreements have been
tentatively reached in many difficult areas. But negotiators were sent
back to the table to work on language clarifying the status of the
protocol in relation to the WTO and how explicitly the so-called
precautionary principle should be expressed in the pact.
The United States acknowledges the importance of precaution in crafting
food-safety and environmental regulations, Loy said. But it fears
language supported by the European Union and many other countries in the
negotiations could allow them to restrict imports of genetically
modified crops without fully considering the benefits of the new
technology.
