Texts: UNEP Statements on Biosafety Protocol

The Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety opened for signature May 24 at the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, where a meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is under way.

The Protocol sets international standards on the use of bioengineered products -- also known as living modified organisms (LMOs). In signing the agreement, UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said governments will signal their intention to create "an effective regime for minimizing the potential risks posed by the trade or accidental release of agricultural and food products that have been genetically modified."

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted by more than 130 countries January 29 in Montreal, Canada. Once this first protocol to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity is ratified by 50 states, it will provide a framework for addressing environmental impacts of bioengineered products that cross international borders.

Because the U.S. Senate has not ratified the underlying 1992 convention, the United States cannot be a party to the biosafety protocol. It participated in the Montreal negotiations nevertheless because of its role as a major agricultural exporting nation, joined by other major exporters in the so-called Miami group. The members called for an accord that would protect the environment without unnecessarily disrupting world food trade.

In a Washington speech in April, Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Frank Loy said that in the view of the United States, the Biosafety Protocol is a "quite good agreement" because it makes sure that the biotechnology industry will continue to create "what we believe is a beneficial stream of products."

In a Washington File byliner published in February, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs David B. Sandalow wrote that the Protocol "helps build a global framework based on information-sharing and science-based decisionmaking to help governments manage both the benefits and the risks of biotechnology."

Sandalow continued, "The Biosafety Protocol is the first international agreement to expressly recognize the potential benefits of modern biotechnology. The preamble states that 'modern biotechnology has great potential for human well-being' -- a statement that is particularly significant in an environmental agreement."

Following are two UNEP texts:

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United Nations News Centre

UN Newservice

New protocol on biosafety opens for signature in Nairobi

24 May -- An international protocol on the use of living modified organisms opened for signature today during a high-level gathering of the States parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity held at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi.

In a statement, UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said that by signing the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety, governments will signal their intention to create "an effective regime for minimizing the potential risks posed by the trade or accidental release of agricultural and food products that have been genetically modified."

The Protocol was finalized earlier this year after five years of negotiations. It aims to promote the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms, known as LMOs, resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It takes into account risks posed to human health and focuses on transboundary movements.

To ensure that countries importing modified organisms have an opportunity to assess the risks involving the products of modern biotechnology, the Protocol establishes strict "Advanced Information Agreement (AIA)" procedures that will apply to seeds, live fish and other living modified organisms, the statement said.

Exporters of such goods will be required to provide detailed information to importing countries in advance of the first shipment, and the importer must authorize the shipment, UNEP said. Shipments of LMOs are to be identified so that it is clear that they "may contain" such organisms and are not intended for intentional introduction into the environment.

Governments will also signal whether or not they are willing to accept imports of agricultural commodities that contain LMOs by registering their decision through an Internet-based "biosafety clearing house."

The Biosafety Protocol, which will enter into force after 50 States ratify it, is attached to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

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United Nations Environment Programme

Ministers to Sign Biosafety Protocol in Nairobi

Nairobi, 23 May 2000

Up to 50 environment ministers from around the world are expected to arrive today at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to participate in talks on the Convention on Biological Diversity and to sign the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

"The participation of ministers at the Biodiversity Conference gives a strong political signal that Governments are serious about the conservation and sustainable use of the Earth's species, ecosystems and genetic resources," said Executive Director Klaus Toepfer of UNEP, which administers the Convention's secretariat.

"By signing the Biosafety Protocol, the ministers will further demonstrate that an effective regime for minimizing the potential risks posed by the trade or accidental release of agricultural and food products that have been genetically modified should soon become a reality."

The Protocol's objective is to promote the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and specifically focusing on transboundary movements.

The Protocol establishes strict Advanced Informed Agreement (AIA) procedures that will apply to seeds, live fish, and other living modified organisms that are to be intentionally introduced into the environment.

In these cases, the exporter must provide detailed information to each importing country in advance of the first shipment, and the importer must then authorize the shipment. The aim is to ensure that recipient countries have both the opportunity and the capacity to assess risks involving the products of modern biotechnology.

Governments will also signal whether or not they are willing to accept imports of agricultural commodities that include LMOs by communicating their decision to the world community via an Internet-based Biosafety Clearing-House. In addition, shipments of these commodities are to be identified so that it is clear that they "may contain" LMOs and are not intended for intentional introduction into the environment.

"The Convention on Biological Diversity offers a range of tools for promoting the conservation and sustainable use of species and ecosystems," said Hamdallah Zedan, the Convention's Executive Secretary. "The Biosafety Protocol is one such tool and will help ensure that our natural environment and the modern biotechnology industry are able to co-exist harmoniously."

The Protocol was signed by President Moi of Kenya on 15 May, the opening day. After the high-level segment starts on Wednesday at 10 a.m., the next official to sign will be Colombian Environment Minister Juan Mayr, who chaired the Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties that finalized and adopted the Protocol on 29 January 2000 in Montreal. Other ministers and duly empowered heads of delegation will sign during the morning while high-level statements continue in the main plenary room.

After the end of the current meeting -- the Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP 5) -- governments can sign the Protocol at UN Headquarters in New York from 5 June 2000 to 4 June 2001. Governments will follow-up their signature by also ratifying the agreement. The Protocol will enter into force 90 days after it has received 50 ratifications.

The Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 5) to the Convention will adopt its final decisions and results on Friday, 26 May. The meeting is being attended by some 1,500 delegates from 150 Governments and 250 non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations.

The Nairobi Biodiversity Conference will be immediately followed by the first-ever Global Ministerial Environment Forum to be held in Malmo, Sweden, from 29 to 31 May. The Forum, which also serves as a Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council, will be attended by over 100 environment ministers who will among other things, identify the major environmental challenges of the 21st century.

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