The Biosafety Protocol

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