Page - October 17, 2006
Canada refuses to sign agreement to protect the planet's biodiversity.
The Cartagena Biosafety Protocol - or Biosafety Protocol - is a
United Nations agreement first devised at the Rio Earth Summit in
1992. The agreement, now signed by over 100 countries, is designed
to regulate the international trade, handling and use of any
genetically engineered (GE) plants and animals that may present a
threat to biological diversity or human health. This agreement
recognizes the need for a cautionary approach to the environmental
release of GE organisms, and establishes specific rules for the
transport of these organisms between countries. The Biosafety
Protocol requires that countries are informed and agree in advance
to imports of GE crops. This is called the Advance Informed
Agreement (AIA). Before countries are allowed to export any
genetically engineered organisms destined for intentional
introduction into the environment, they must first obtain the
importing country's explicit consent.
The Biosafety Protocol is an important step in protecting the
planet's biodiversity, and Greenpeace has been very involved
in strengthen the agreement. The Biosafety Protocol is especially
important to Canadians concerned about the risks associated with GE
plants and animals because Canada (along with the US and Argentina)
has refused to ratify the agreement. In fact Canada, along with the
US and Argentina, are part of the 'Miami Group:' large GE
exporters that are attempting to undermine the effectiveness of the
agreement in order to protect the sale of GE crops.
Read about Greenpeace Canada's actions a the most recent meeting
about the Biosafety Protocol in Montreal.
http://www.greenpeace.ca/e/campaign/gmo/depth/bsp_0505/index.php
Read a general backgrounder on the Biosafety Protocol.
[see international link:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/genetic-engineering/biosafety-protocol]
Visit the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety wesbite.
http://www.biodiv.org/biosafety/default.aspx