Brussels, 11/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The United Nations Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety came into force on Thursday. It is a binding legal instrument designed to protect biological diversity and human health from the potential risks arising from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by providing a clear legal framework for their transboundary movement. Countries shipping GMOs for intentional introduction into the environment will have to give prior notification to the importing country that is a Party to the Protocol under the Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure. The notification will have to provide information necessary to enable the importing country to make informed decisions.
On behalf of the European Union, which is a signatory to the multilateral environmental agreement, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström welcomed the new Protocol in a press release: "The Cartagena Protocol establishes one set of basic international rules for dealing with GMOs. It is a fundamental step towards better global governance in the GMO field. This is badly needed to maximise the benefits deriving from biotechnology and minimise the risks for the environment and human health. It will contribute to increasing public confidence in the safe management of GMOs. This Protocol will particularly help developing countries, which often lack the resources to assess the risks of biotechnology and make informed choices about it."
The European Union prepared for the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol by adopting a new regulation in June 2003 on transboundary movements of GMOs that addresses in particular exports of GMOs, in order to align EU legislation with the provisions of the Biosafety Protocol. The Regulation establishes rules covering the identification of GMOs in EU exports, subjects all EU exports to prior consent of importing countries and is stricter than the Cartagena Protocol since it clearly stipulates that exporting countries must respect importing countries' legislation with regard to GMOs. The United States has not ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and is therefore not a party to the new Protocol.