BACKGROUND

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international

agreement on biosafety as a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) effective
since 2003(twenty-three). The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the
potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
The Biosafety Protocol makes clear that products from new technologies must be based on
the precautionary principle and allow developing nations to balance public health against economic
benefits. It will for example let countries ban imports of genetically modified organisms if they feel
there is not enough scientific evidence that the product is safe and requires exporters to label
shipments containing genetically altered commodities such as corn or cotton.

The required number of 50 (fifty)instruments of ratification/accession/approval/acceptance by

countries was reached in May 2003(twenty-three). In accordance with the provisions of its Article
37(thirty-seven), the Protocol entered into force on 11(eleven) September 2003(twenty-three). As of
July 2020(twenty-twenty), the Protocol had 173(one hundred seventy three) parties, which includes
170(one hundred seventy) United Nations member states, the State of Palestine, Niue, and

the European Union. The Biosafety Protocol (BSP) is an outgrowth of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), a multilateral treaty for protecting biodiversity. The CBD's(convention on biological
divrsity) sound and commendable goals are to: Conserve biodiversity and provide for its sustainable
use, and promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the genetic resources
inherent in biodiversity. A Biosafety Working Group (BSWG) was established under the
CBD(convention on biological diversity) to draft a Protocol dealing with the " transfer, handling and
use of 'living modified organisms' (LMOs) derived from biotechnology that may have an adverse
effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity." The BSWG(biosafety working group) is
negotiating aspects of the BSP(biosafety prptocol), including Protocol scope, advanced informed
agreements for shipments of LMO(living modified organisms)s, risk assessment parameters, liability,
labeling, confidentiality, status of non-Parties to the treaty, and the relationship of the BSP(biosafety
protocol) to other international agreements.

PROTOCOL SCOPE

The BSWG(biosafety working group) is currently considering which materials, genetic modification
techniques and activities the BSP(biosafety protocol) will cover. Many Parties favor expanding the
scope beyond organisms that may have an adverse effect on biodiversity to include most, and
perhaps all, LMO(living modified organisims)s. If this approach is accepted, the BSP(biosafety
protocol) would cover bulk commodity grains, raw and processed foods and food ingredients, animal
feed, and pharmaceuticals. Covered products of biotechnology will likely include most genetically
modified organisms, including modified cells and seeds, and may also include: products derived from
or produced by genetically modified organisms/cells/seeds or vectors and plasmids used to create
genetically modified organisms/cells/seeds. The methods of genetic modification covered by the
BSP(biosafty protocol), which are still under debate, will include recombinant DNA techniques and
direct injection of nucleic acids into cells and may also include cell fusion and other genetic
modification techniques. Activities covered by the BS(biosafety protocol) will include transboundary
movement and deliberate releases, and may also include handling, transfer and use of genetically
modified organisms, including contained uses.

POTENTİAL İMPACTS
  If concepts and language currently supported by some delegates are adopted, the
BSP(biosafety protocol) could:
 Impose severe trade barriers on biotechnology products such as bulk grain commodities,
processed foods, medical diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.
 Increase shipping costs, delays and uncertainties which will be reflected in the costs of
goods.
 Disrupt international research collaborations.
 Inhibit the transfer of technologies to developing countries.
 Stifle scientific research within developing countries.
 Impose burdensome provisions, with perhaps no regard to actual risk, on countries with
little capacity or few resources to implement them.
 Conflict with provisions of certain other international trade agreements.
 Desired Outcomes
 Biodiversity is a global resource of tremendous value to all of humankind. The
CBD(convention on biological diversity) provides an important opportunity for nations to
work together on an issue vitally important to us and future generations. To that end, we
support a BSP(biosafety protocol) that furthers the goals of the CBD(convention on biological
diversity): The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and equitable sharing of the
benefits of biotechnology. To contribute to these goals, the BSP (biosafety protocol)must:
 Be based on sound scientific principles.
 Take into account the actual environmental risks and the benefits of biotechnology,
especially its role in facilitating biodiversity conservation.
 Focus on the transboundary movement of LMOs(living modified organism ) that may
threaten biodiversity.
 Not unnecessarily restrict the transboundary movement of LMO(living modified organism )s
that pose no threat to biodiversity, thus increasing costs and delays without compensatory
increases in environmental protection.
 Be consistent with existing international obligations to protect the environment.
 Encourage technology transfer and information sharing so all countries can benefit from
advances in medical, agricultural and environmental biotechnology, while, at the same time,
allowing for the protection of confidential information and intellectual property.
 Not divert resources from the protection of biodiversity to the development and
administration of a regulatory system requiring case-by-case review of low-risk products.
 Be flexible so that any country can respond rapidly and appropriately to favorable
developments in the new and evolving field of biotechnology.
