-Caveat Lector-
Biodiversity Jeopardized in Cartagena Biosafety Negotiations
PRNewswire
16-FEB-99
CARTAGENA, Colombia, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of the world's
leading biotechnology companies confirmed their commitment to the initial aims
of the Biosafety Protocol at a United Nations Conference in Cartagena,
Columbia, today. But they said this remarkable technology is under threat in
the final negotiations of the Biosafety Protocol in Cartagena. Proposals to
broaden the scope of the Protocol go well beyond those necessary to assure
that biotechnology will not pose a threat to biodiversity. Some of the
proposals will also cause major disruptions in world trade with negative
impacts on food availability. Other proposals under consideration would:
-- Undermine the use of established science in evaluating products of
biotechnology
-- Impede technology transfer and scientific research
-- Threaten to limit the availability of this important tool, and
-- Prevent or restrict its use in developing countries. "It is developing
countries that could benefit most from the use of biotechnology to increase
agricultural productivity, reduce environmental degradation and conserve
biological diversity in their territories. In many cases misunderstanding and
misinformation disseminated by outside interest groups have succeeded in
moving delegates towards positions that may not be in the best overall
interests of their home countries," said a spokesperson for the industry
group.
The industry statement continued, "We have sought to work with the leadership
of the negotiation, other Non-Governmental Organizations and the country
delegates to stimulate a Protocol that provides practical and meaningful
protection to biodiversity. This end, which is broadly accepted, is being
seriously threatened by aggressively advocated positions that are
fundamentally misguided. The cost may be a collapsed negotiation or, even
worse, an agreement forged from purely political compromises that will
dramatically disrupt global trade. It would also undermine economic
development by denying the benefits of modern biotechnology to major segments
of the World's population."
Biotechnology products include seeds to grow grains, vegetables, and fruits
that resist insect pests, foods with enhanced nutritional content,
pharmaceuticals that target our most feared diseases and even microbes that
synthesize chemicals using less energy and creating less pollution. These
products are already demonstrating their enormous potential to benefit
humankind but realization of those benefits broadly around the globe would be
threatened under proposals still being considered in these negotiations.
Agricultural applications of modern biotechnology have been a particular focus
of these negotiations. These applications increase food productivity with less
environmental impact than most current farming practices. Higher agricultural
productivity is essential to avoid loss of biodiversity that would result from
converting forests and marginal lands to agriculture, to say nothing of the
challenge of feeding the rapidly growing human population.
The vast experience to date has shown the positive compatibility of new
agricultural varieties produced through biotechnology with a healthy
environment. These crops were grown last year on approximately 70 million
acres (28 million hectares) worldwide. Thoroughly reviewed by regulatory
agencies for health and environmental concerns, these products have lived up
to expectations. Wherever the uses of genetically modified seeds have been
approved, farmers have enthusiastically used these seeds for the many
advantages they offer over traditional varieties.
The industry has said that for the Protocol to achieve its goal, it must have
the following elements:
1. The Scope of the Protocol must be limited to Living Modified Organisms
(LMOs) that may have an adverse effect on biodiversity. Therefore, the
Protocol must not cover:
-- Non-viable products of LMOs such as processed foods and feeds (e.g. cereal
and noodles)
-- Health care products and pharmaceuticals
-- Products destined for contained use, such as for manufacturing and
research
-- LMOs in transit through a country
-- Commodities not intended for deliberate releases into the environment such
as soybeans used for processing
2. The Advanced Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure should apply only to
first time shipments of new LMOs.
3. The Protocol cannot be solely exporter based. Risk assessments under
AIA depend on criteria established by the party of import.
4. Risk assessment regarding importation of LMOs under the Protocol must
be based on internationally agreed scientific principles.
5. The Protocol must be compatible with existing international agreements
which include but are not limited to the World Trade Organization (WTO),
subsidiary agreements to WTO and the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC).
6. "Capacity building" initiatives must be strategic, pragmatic and
affordable, taking available human and financial resources into consideration.
7. The Protocol must not be used to create an international liability
regime for LMOs.
8. Trade with Non-Parties must be permitted.
These requirements represent the consensus of the Global Industry Coalition.
The Global Industry Coalition represents over 2,200 firms from more than 130
countries worldwide. Our membership includes companies from a variety of
industrial sectors including plant and animal agriculture, food production,
human and animal health care and the environment.
=================================
Robert F. Tatman
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