World on verge of GM trade deal

15 February 1999

World on verge of GM trade deal

By FWi staff

GOVERNMENT officials from around the world are on the verge of finalising a protocol to govern the safe international movement of biotechnology products.

Representatives of 170 countries meeting in Colombia hope to finish negotiating the details of the protocol next week

The protocol aims to cut the risks to human health and the environment from moving genetically modified (GM) organisms across national boundaries.

Those behind the protocol hope to achieve this by introducing a system of permits and information sharing but there is still some conflict about what to include.

One of the key issues is whether the protocol should be confined to GM organisms, or whether it should also include products derived from those organisms.

The European Union wants the protocol extended to cover agricultural products because of fears that GM food could present a health risk.

But that is opposed by the USA, which is already a big producer of GM commodities such as soya and maize.