A rchive Date
[ 05-06-2000 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.N ]
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[Negotiators struggle over basic issues on first day of gene talks
By MATT CRENSON - The Associated Press
Jan. 26, 2000
MONTREAL - Negotiators from 138 countries are wrestling over the Biosafety Protocol, a proposed international agreement that would regulate trade in genetically modified products.
The immediate issues discussed Monday at the U.N. meeting were the labeling and tracking of genetically modified commodities such as corn and wheat, and whether the agreement would cover only seeds and other organisms intended for release into the environment, or a much broader range of products.
But what is really at stake in Montreal this week is the future of an industry that has grown faster than the international community's ability to cope with it.
"Citizens are questioning whether they can trust industry and their governments to ensure the safety of modern biotechnology," said Colombian Environment Minister Juan Mayr, who is chairman of the talks.
The meetings resume negotiations that broke off last February in Cartagena, Colombia, when the United States - joined by Canada, Australia, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile - would not agree to a draft accepted by 125 other countries.
U.N. officials said that this time, however, an agreement would be reached.
"I do not intend to leave Montreal without approving the Cartagena protocol in biosafety," Mayr said.
The Biosafety Protocol would set rules to protect human health and the environment from damage due to international trade in genetically engineered crops, animals and products made from them. But there are major disagreements over what, if any, protections are necessary.
Monday's negotiations centered on the same issue that frustrated last year's talks - the scope of products that should be covered by the new rules. Less developed nations argued for coverage of most genetically modified products, from canned food to vaccines.
"It should cover everything," said Ethiopian delegate Tewolde Egziabher. "We cannot chip away at the contents one by one."
But the countries led by the United States - known as the Miami group - insisted on a more limited agreement that would cover only seeds and other products intended for release into the environment.
Raw commodities such as unprocessed genetically modified grains and soybeans were also a topic of discussion. Less developed nations would like the right to refuse shipments of genetically modified commodities altogether. The Miami group worries that arrangement would allow countries to use the protocol as a means of thwarting free trade in agricultural markets.
"Our view is that such a proposal would rewrite the rules of world trade," said U.S. negotiator David Sandalow.
Left for the end of the week's talks are even more contentious issues, especially how the agreement will relate to the World Trade Organization and other international agreements. But so far most of the parties have expressed willingness to negotiate and are optimistic that an agreement can be reached.
"We have come here ready to negotiate and hoping to make a deal," Sandalow said.
Louise Gale of Greenpeace International, who attended last year's Cartagena meeting as well, noted that the same good will prevailed in the early days of those negotiations.
"We'll have to see how long this smile can last," she said.]
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