Nagoya, Japan
 15 October 2010

CropLife International applauds the positive negotiations that took place at this week’s fifth Meeting of the Parties (MOP-5) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (BSP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in particular the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Protocol on Liability and Redress. Progress made during these negotiations will help ensure transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) protect biological diversity and maintain international trade.

“The plant biotechnology industry appreciates the opportunity to participate in the negotiations, as the outcomes impact how farmers and consumers will access innovative agricultural technologies that can increase crop productivity and protect biodiversity,” said Sarah Lukie, Secretariat of the Global Industry Coalition (GIC). “We are especially pleased by, and congratulate the delegates on the adoption of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Protocol on Liability and Redress, which will provide a workable system for response to damage to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity caused by LMOs.”

The Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Protocol establishes international rules and procedures for liability and redress in case of damage to biological diversity resulting from LMOs. As a complement to this Supplementary Protocol, CropLife International announced the implementation of The Compact on 15 September 2010. The Compact is unprecedented in international environmental law as a contractual mechanism providing for a clearly defined, efficient, and fair recourse process in the event of damage to biological diversity caused by a living modified organism.
“CropLife International was pleased to see support for The Compact during this week’s meetings. Our industry strongly believes The Compact is an effective and comprehensive process for addressing States’ claims for remediation in the unlikely event of damage to biological diversity,” continued Lukie. “We are looking forward to broad participation by the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Protocol’s negotiators in The Compact’s Advisory Committee.”

The GIC congratulates Parties’ hard work to come to consensus on a number of other Articles of the BSP this week, including a recognition that existing documentation systems are working for shipments of LMOs for food, feed and further processing. Members of the GIC look forward to participating in the numerous intersessional meetings scheduled by Parties to occur before they meet again for their sixth meeting in India in 2012.

“This week’s meeting has been an important step for improving access to agricultural biotechnologies and ensuring smooth international trade transactions,” continued Lukie.

CropLife International and its members are committed to developing innovative plant biotechnology products that help farmers grow abundant, safe, and nutritious food for expanding populations, while maintaining and persevering natural resources. The plant science industry participates in the BSP negotiations and implementation discussions through the Global Industry Coalition (GIC). The GIC receives input and direction from trade associations representing thousands of companies from all over the world. Participants include associations representing and companies engaged in a variety of industrial sectors such as plant science, seeds, agricultural biotechnology, food production, animal agriculture, human and animal health care, and the environment.
 

Website: http://www.croplife.org

Published: October 15, 2010