PRESS ADVISORY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY

10 December 2000

Since the international Biosafety Protocol of the Biodiversity Convention was adopted in January this year to protect the environment and human health from risks of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), genetic pollution from uncontrolled GMO exports has become a worldwide problem.

Major scandals involving the release of unauthorised GMOs into the environment have shattered Europe and America in the past year. Greenpeace warns the number of incidents indicate an ongoing global crisis and it demonstrates that the proponents of the GMO industry are not in control.

In Europe, conventional seed varieties of maize, rapeseed, soybean and cotton have been contaminated with genetically engineered seeds. In Brazil, where GMOs are prohibited, substantial quantities of genetically engineered (GE) soybean seeds have been smuggled in from Argentina.

In the USA, a variety of GE maize called "Starlink" was found in food products despite the fact that it is prohibited for human consumption because of allergenicity concerns. The same variety was also detected in food in Japan and Canada.

The UN Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted by the extraordinary Conference of the Parties to the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in Montreal on 29th January 2000. It aims to establish minimum rules for international transport and use of GMOs.

The Protocol identifies the release of GMOs as a significant risk to the environment, human health and biodiversity. It states that export of GMOs requires the advanced informed agreement of the country of import and that any nation has the right to refuse such imports. In Montpellier, the Parties of the Protocol are meeting to agree on ways to turn these principles into practice worldwide.

Fifty countries are required to ratify the Protocol in order to make it legally binding. So far only two have done so. Governments of 78 countries signed the Biosafety Protocol but have not yet ratified it. A further 98 signatory countries of the Biodiversity convention have not yet signed the agreement.

The establishment of the protocol has been further hampered by the GE industry and the so called Miami Group of GMO exporting countries (USA, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and Uruguay). Most notable opposition has come from the US and Canada, and it is anticipated that the Miami Group will continue their efforts to undermine the implementation of any regulations on GMOs.

What should be done?

In this critical situation Greenpeace calls for immediate action by all countries to prevent further uncontrolled release of GMOs.

· As the Biosafety Protocol has not yet entered into force, unilateral national emergency measures need to be taken: No imports and exports of seeds and commodities which have been genetically engineered (such as soybeans, maize, rape-seed, potatoes, tomatoes, cotton) should be allowed unless the exporter and importer can prove these products do not contain any GMOs. · Greenpeace calls upon the delegates to provide emergency assistance to any country requiring support regarding testing of GMOs and legal advice. · Greenpeace calls on all countries to sign, ratify and implement the Cartagena Protocol immediately. · Greenpeace opposes any irreversible release of GMOs into the environment as they pose far-reaching and irreversible threats to the environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

For more information: In Montpellier: Arnaud Apoteker, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner, Tel: +33 60757 31 60; Marijane Lisboa, Political Advisor for Greenpeace International, Tel: +33 609098926.

Teresa Merilainen, Greenpeace International Press Office, Tel: +31205236637
More information on http://www.greenpeace.org