Consultations on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - August 2003
Consultations on the Biosafety Protocol were held in the last week of August 2003 in Canberra, Melbourne and by teleconference. The consultations allowed those with an interest in the Protocol to put their views on areas of concern and implications for industry.
As set out in the background paper, the Protocol aims to deal with environmental issues related to international trade in living (genetically) modified organisms (LMOs), such as genetically modified seeds, fish, trees and animals. The Protocol entered into force on 11 September 2003. The Protocol does not affect trade in processed food or pharmaceutical products containing LMOs. The Protocol may have implications for Australian exporters of LMOs.
The Australian Government has set no timetable for consideration of accession to the Protocol.
Discussions during the consultations were wide-ranging.
- A key issue was the question of adventitious presence (also referred to in the background paper). The Protocol does not consider the adventitious presence of LMOs in shipments of non-LMOs, regardless of the end-use of those shipments.
- Participants were also interested in the operation of the Biosafety Clearing House, the relationship between the WTO and the Biosafety Protocol and the application of precaution, and Australian involvement in the Protocol.
- A number of other issues raised, such as liability and compliance regimes and unique identification, are on the MOP-1 agenda
Please feel free to contact us at e-mail biosafety@dfat.gov.au or the contact numbers below.
Contact
Environment Branch
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Phone: + 61 2 6261 3663
Fax: + 61 2 6112 1262
E-mail: biosafety@dfat.gov.au