Posted by Sadie from ? (160.129.27.22) on Monday, June 23, 2003 at 1:41PM :
Nature 423, 794 (19 June 2003)
NEWS IN BRIEF: Pacific island tips balance in favour of biosafety protocol
[LONDON] It's all systems go for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, an international agreement set up to ensure that living genetically modified organisms do not adversely affect biological diversity or human health when moved across country borders.
Last week the Pacific island of Palau became the 50th state to ratify the protocol, reaching the threshold required for the treaty to enter into force. It will now become binding on 11 September this year.
The protocol is designed to ensure that countries are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about whether to accept transgenic imports. It covers any transgenic organism intentionally introduced into the environment, such as seeds or fish, or that is used indirectly in food or feed, or for processing.
Several major nations will not recognize the treaty when it comes into force. The United States and Australia, for example, have not signed the protocol.
-- Sadie
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