International issues
- International agreements
- WTO Dispute Panel's interim report
- Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs)
- Transboundary movement of GMOs
- Aarhus Convention
International Agreements
We deal with the negotiation and implementation of international legislation and treaties relating to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), such as the Cartagena Protocol and the EU proposal on the transboundary movement of GMOs.
We also deal with other international initiatives concerned with GMOs, including for example work undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on biotechnology and work on biosafety undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
WTO Dispute Panel's interim report
Defra has received a number of letters and e-mails in response to recent press reports and campaigns regarding the interim report of the World Trade Organisation's Dispute Panel on the approval in the EU of Genetically Modified Organisms. Please see the following Defra statement (21 February 2006).
Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs)
In advance of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in March 2006, Defra received a number of letters and e-mails connected to a recent campaign co-ordinated by an organisation called 'banterminator.org' regarding the research and development of certain Genetic Restriction Technologies (GURTs). Please see the following Defra statement (21 February 2006).
Following the successful outcome of the CBD meeting Defra has now released an update (April 2006)
Transboundary movement of GMOs
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is a UN multinational environment agreement designed to secure an adequate level of environmental protection against any cross-border movements of GMOs. It also helps to provide a safety net for the protection of biodiversity in developing countries which do not have the necessary systems and capacity in place to control trade in GMOs. The European Union has now introduced a regulation [PDF] on the transboundary movement of GMOs to implement in the EU those aspects of the Cartagena Protocol not covered by existing legislation. The enforcement of this regulation has been implemented in England by way of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Transboundary Movements) (England) Regulations 2004. A consultation on these regulations was carried out in 2002. (Similar Regulations have been implemented in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales).
Copies of these Regulations are available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) (www.hmso.gov.uk).
Please see our Cartagena page for more information on this area.
Aarhus Convention
An agreement to extend the public's legal right to participate in decision-making on the release and placing on the market of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) was reached on Wednesday 25th May 2005 by the Parties to the UNECE Aarhus Convention (including the UK) holding their second meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Parties agreed on the text of an amendment to the Convention aimed at extending the role of the public in decisions involving GMOs. The UK, along with its EU partners, already has arrangements in place which are fully in line with the requirements of this amendment.
Page published 3 October
2002;
Page last modified
14 May, 2007