Highlights of U.N. food biosafety pact
Date: 01-Feb-00
Country: USA
- Preamble recognises risks and benefits associated with biotechnology
and the need to protect biological diversity.
- Preamble emphasises protocol "shall not be interpreted" as changing
the rights and obligations of countries under other international pacts,
such as the World Trade Organisation.
- Preamble also recognises trade and environmental agreements should be
mutually supportive and the protocol is not subordinate to other
international pacts.
- The protocol establishes a Biosafety Clearing House for countries to
share information about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Countries
must inform the Clearing House within 15 days of the approval of any
crop varieties which could be used in food, animal feed and processing.
- Exporters are required to obtain an importing country's approval,
through a procedure known as advance informed agreement (AIA), for
initial shipments of genetically modified organisms intended for release
into the environment. Examples include seeds and trees.
- GMOs intended for food, feed and processing - in other words,
commodities - are exempted from the AIA requirement. However, they must
be labeled "may contain" GMOs and countries can decide whether to import
those commodities based on a scientific risk assessment.
- Negotiations on more detailed labeling requirements will proceed, with
the requirement they be completed no later than two years after the
protocol takes effect.
- Countries do have not to have complete "scientific certainty" to block
imports of a GMO they fear could be harmful to biological diversity and,
by extension, human health.
- Countries also may consider "socioeconomic factors," such as the
impact on local farmers, consistent with their other international
obligations when making import decisions.
- Exceptions to the AIA requirement are granted for GMOs intended for
"contained use," such as in research, and for GMOs in transit through a
country.
- GMOs used as pharmaceuticals for humans are exempted from the protocol
if they are addressed by other relevant international agreements or
organisations.
- Members of the pact will cooperate to help developing countries build
human resources and institutions to make informed decisions about GMOs.
- New negotiations will be launched to address the issue of liability
for any damage resulting from the cross-border movements of GMOs. The
goal is to finish in four years.
- Countries have an obligation to inform affected parties and take other
appropriate action if they discover an unintentional movement of GMOs
across borders.
- If illegal shipments occur, the affected party can request the shipper
to retrieve or destroy the GMO at its own expense.
- The protocol will go into effect after ratification by the 50th
country or regional economic integration organisation that is a party to
the 1992 U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity. It will be subject to
review at least every five years.
