GMOs: EU ratifies the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety, June 2002

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Series Details 26.6.02
Publication Date 26/06/2002
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The European Union ratified the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety on 25 June 2002, which aims to provide better worldwide management and better access to information on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The Cartagena Protocol is legally binding and was the first Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) concluded in the new millennium. It is designed to protect biological diversity and human health from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology by establishing an international legal framework for the cross-border movement of GMOs on the basis of the 'precautionary principle'. The Protocol contains a number of specific tools for promoting biosafety:

  • It establishes an advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure for ensuring that countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory. Under the AIA procedure, the exporter must provide a detailed, written description of the GMO to the importing country in advance of the first shipment. The importer is to acknowledge receipt of this information within 90 days and then explicitly authorise the shipment within 270 days or state its reasons for rejecting it.
  • It establishes a Biosafety Clearing-House in order to facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental and legal information on, and experience with, living modified organisms; and to assist Parties to implement the Protocol.
  • It provides for governments to decide whether or not to accept imports of GMOs on the basis of risk assessments. These assessments are to be undertaken in a scientific manner but in case of insufficient relevant scientific information and knowledge, a country may decide to apply the precautionary approach and refuse the import of the GMO into its territory. The Protocol also recognises the right of importing countries to take into account socio-economic considerations such as the value of biological diversity to its indigenous and local communities in reaching a decision on import of GMOs.
  • It promotes capacity building whereby the more developed countries are urged to help developing countries and countries with economies in transition to build the human resources and institutional capacity that they will need to use biotechnology safely and to regulate it efficiently. Biosafety activities will be eligible for financial support because the Protocol is part of the Convention on Biological Diversity but governments are also expected to facilitate greater private-sector involvement in capacity building.
  • It calls on Member governments to commit to promoting public awareness by ensuring public access to information, and consulting the public in decisions about biosafety. They must also take national measures to prevent illegal shipments and accidental releases of GMOs, and they must notify affected or potentially affected states in the event that an unintentional movement occurs.

The Cartagena Protocol takes its name from the city in Colombia where the Biosafety Protocol was originally scheduled to be concluded and adopted in February 1999. However, due to a number of outstanding issues, it was not adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity until 29 January 2000 in Montreal, Canada. By June 2002, 110 countries had signed the Cartagena Protocol and 20 had ratified it, including Spain and The Netherlands. Australia and the United States of America, who have said they will not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, are two of the countries which have not signed up to the Cartagena Protocol.

The Protocol requires fifty ratifications before it can enter into force. A survey conducted during the third meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee of the Cartagena Protocol (ICCP) suggested that 25 countries intend to ratify before the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in August, and a further 20 by the end of 2002. Since the Protocol can only enter into force ninety days after the fiftieth ratification, this would mean the Protocol could become operational by Spring 2003.

Speaking about the EU's ratification of the Protocol, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said:

'If we are promoting free trade on a global scale we must ensure that protecting the environment and human health is taken into account. This is another example of our commitment to finding multilateral solutions for global problems. Last month the EU ratified the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. These measures contribute to our overall aim of sustainable development'.

The European Commission proposed a Regulation on the cross-border movements of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) on 22 February 2002, aimed at establishing safeguards at international level for the transfer, handling and use of GMOs and therefore implementing into EU legislation the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol. The Regulation would add to the European Commission's existing proposal on the traceability and labeling of GMOs which will be voted on by the European Parliament at its plenary session in July 2002.

Links:

European Commission:

Council of the European Union:

Convention on Biological Diversity:

European Sources Online: In Focus

  • Genetically modified organisms: Replacement of Directive 90/220, and new proposals on the traceability and labelling of food containing GMOs

Helen Bower
Compiled: Wednesday, 26 June 2002

The European Union ratified the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety on 25 June 2002, which aims to provide better worldwide management and better access to information on genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
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