pedro san pedro
10th February 2006, 21:44
131 countries are meeting in Brazil next month for the next round of talks in the biosafety protocol. this protocol, if adopted, would put the onus on exporters to declare any viable GMO's before the enter a destination country - ie any live organisms - eg viable maize seed - that have been genetically engineered. the protocol has particually strong support amongst developing nations who do not have access to the funds needed to maintain strict biosecruity measures at their borders.
however, at the last round last year, New Zealand - a GE-free nation with incrediably strong bio-security and a zero tolerance policy toward the import of viable GMO's - and Brazil voted against the protocol - blocking the wishes of the other 117 countries present. It is believed that New Zealand - who stands to gain a lot economically from such a protocol (being GE-free) voted in this manner largely at the request of both the USA and Canada, neither of whom have ratified the protocol, but both of whom would be affected by it.
the protocol would go a long way toward containing the spread of GMO's - both Mexico and Brazil have been heavily affected by the spread of undeclared GMO's that have entered the borders - and toward giving poorer countires the right to self determination.
The protocol also provides an important safety net for monitoring the spread of GMO's - should an organism prove to be dangerous to human health in the future, we currently have very little means of tracking where it has spread thoughout the world.
however, at the last round last year, New Zealand - a GE-free nation with incrediably strong bio-security and a zero tolerance policy toward the import of viable GMO's - and Brazil voted against the protocol - blocking the wishes of the other 117 countries present. It is believed that New Zealand - who stands to gain a lot economically from such a protocol (being GE-free) voted in this manner largely at the request of both the USA and Canada, neither of whom have ratified the protocol, but both of whom would be affected by it.
the protocol would go a long way toward containing the spread of GMO's - both Mexico and Brazil have been heavily affected by the spread of undeclared GMO's that have entered the borders - and toward giving poorer countires the right to self determination.
The protocol also provides an important safety net for monitoring the spread of GMO's - should an organism prove to be dangerous to human health in the future, we currently have very little means of tracking where it has spread thoughout the world.