Author (Person) | Bower, Helen |
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Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning |
Series Title | In Focus |
Series Details | 11.6.03 |
Publication Date | 11/06/2003 |
Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus |
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached agreement on the transboundary movement of GMOs after the European Parliament endorsed the proposal at its second reading on 4 June 2003. The new Regulation is designed to implement part of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which the EU ratified in June 2002. The Protocol, the first Multilateral Environmental Agreement to be concluded in the new Millennium, aims to provide better worldwide management and better access to information on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). 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 European Commission presented a proposal [COM(2002)85] for a Regulation on the cross-border movements of GMOs on 22 February 2002. The main elements of the proposal are:
Agreement between the Council and the Parliament was made possible after three controversial issues were resolved through the co-decision procedure:
The compromise text of the new Regulation is broadly in line with the overall approach of the European Commission's original position, but includes stricter provisions as regards the explicit consent to be given from importing countries. Welcoming the conclusion of negotiations in time, which will allows the EU to respect the international deadlines, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström said:
The Environment Council is expected to formally approve the agreement, by qualified majority voting, on 13 June 2003. The EU hopes that by introducing the necessary legislation to implement the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol, it will encourage other countries to follow suit. The Protocol is seen as an essential instrument in enabling developing to take informed decisions when importing GMOs. Helen Bower Compiled: Wednesday, 11 June 2003 The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached agreement on the transboundary movement of GMOs after the European Parliament endorsed the proposal at its second reading on 4 June 2003. |
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Subject Categories | Business and Industry |