The Biosafety Protocol

1. Risk analysis in other international agreements: the Biosafety ProtocolProf. Timothy G. Reeves FTSE

2. “The Cartagena Protocol recognizes that biotechnology has an immense potential for improving human welfare, but it could also pose potential risks to biodiversity and human health. This new regime promises to make the international trade in GMOs more transparent while introducing important safety messages that will meet the needs of consumers, industry and the environment for many decades to come.” Toepfer 2003

3. The Biosafety Protocol • Response to GM Organisms-global transfers/trade • CBD – Cartagena (29 Jan 2000) • Advanced Informed Agreement (AIA) • Precautionary approach

4. Current Status • 57 countries ratified (not Australia) • In-force 11 September 2003 • Procedures • Intentional Release • Food/Feed Processing

5. Support and Capacity Building in Risk Analysis • UNEP/GEF – US $ 40 million • 100 Countries • Biosafety Clearing House (BCH)

6. Help Site map Search About this site Contact us Welcome The Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) was established by Article 20 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. This website provides access to the Pilot Phase of the Biosafety Clearing-House. Learn more...

7. Provisions from 11/9/03 • Countries shipping living modified organisms (LMOs) for intentional introduction into the environment will have to give prior notification of the first shipment to an importing country that is a party to the Protocol under what is referred to as the “Advance Informed Agreement” procedure. Sufficient information will have to be provided to enable importing countries to make informed decisions. • Member countries of the Protocol will also be required to use the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) to fulfill a number of specific obligations. The BCH is a largely Internet-based facility established under the Protocol to ease communications and exchange of information between the Parties. • All shipments containing LMOs for intentional introduction into the environment will be clearly identified as such in the accompanying documentation which must specify the identity and characteristics of the specific LMOs contained in each shipment.

8. Special Concerns and Considerations for Australia • Centres of Genetic Diversity • GM Crops in Australia • Biotechnology R, D & E

9. Centres of Genetic Diversity • ‘Gene-flow’ – wild relatives, landraces, farmer varieties • Genetic diversity • Sensitivity

10. GM Crops in Australia • GM Cotton; GM Canola; many trials • Precautionary principle • Trade barrier?

11. “This implies that a country may refuse the import of a particular GMO when there is a lack of scientific certainty about its potential harmfulness. The concern is that this provision of the protocol could be used to impose unjustifiable restrictions on trade and could weaken the scientific basis of risk assessment that underpins the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement.” Foster et al (2003)

12. Research (); Evaluation (); Release ( or ) • Current concerns inc. ‘input traits’ • Traits that save lives • Drought • Fortified Crops • Functional Foods

18. The Way Ahead • Biosafety Protocol – Infancy • GM Crops/Foods • ‘Live with’ • Environmental concerns • Trade barrier? • Australia to ratify? • Risk assessment – knowledge transfer

19. THANK YOU!