• Analyse des verabschiedeten Verhandlungstextes zu Artikel 18.2
    Dokumentierung von LMO-FFP im internationalen Handel Der Kompromisstext der Vertragsstaatenkonferenz zum Cartagena Protokoll zur Biologischen Sicherheit zum Artikel 18.2. baut auf auf den Vorschlag Brasiliens, der die Wende im Verhandlungsverlauf zu Beginn der Woche eingeleitet hat.


    Grundlegende Struktur


    1) Die Identitaet der GVO ist bekannt


    Statt fuer alle GVO im internationalen Handel von Nahrungs- und Futtermitteln die Kennzeichnung "enthaelt GVO" verbindlich vorzuschreiben, wird diese Kennzeichnung nur noch noetig fuer "genetisch modifizierte Organismen" (in Nahrungsmitteln), deren Identitaet bekannt ist.


    Damit muss diese Ware auch weiter dokumentiert werden in bezug auf die genaue Beschreibung der GVOs, aufbauend auf dem "Unique identifier", einem internationalen Erkennungscode.


    Wann ist die Identitaet bekannt?

    wenn ein Identitaetssicherungssystem im Inland praktiziert wird (vollkommene Trennung, eventuell mit Rueckverfolgbarkeits- dokumentierung),

    wenn "andere Massnahmen" ergriffen wurden, wie z.B. umfangreiches Testen der Ware im Inlandsverkehr bis hin zum Hafen (Testen an jeder Station der Transport- und Handelskette),

    wenn das Land bei der Kulturart ueberhaupt nur eine transgene Eigenschaft zugelassen hat.


    2.) Die Identitaet der GVO ist nicht bekannt


    Fuer Ware, bei der man nicht weiss, ob sie Gentechnik enthaelt oder nicht, reicht es, sie gegenueber dem Importstaat lediglich auszuweisen mit der Kennzeichnung "koennte Gentechnik enthalten".


    Das trifft fuer die meisten Faelle von Exportkulturen der Miami-Gruppe zu, also der Laender, die bisher ohne Identitaetssicherung und Trennung Gentechnik bei Kulturpflanzen zugelassen haben und bei Anbau, Transport und Handel bisher keine Unterscheidung getroffen haben zwischen gentechnikveraenderter und gentechnikfreier Ware.


    Allerdings muss auch fuer diese Warenlieferungen angegeben werden:

    dass die Ware nicht zur Aussaat bestimmt ist (absichtliche Ausbringung in die Natur), also lediglich zum Verzehr durch Mensch, Vieh oder fuer die Weiterverarbeitung bestimmt ist,

    die Liste aller moeglichen GVOs, die enthalten sein koennten,

    der Transformationscode, um schnellen Zugang zu der internationalen Datenbank zu finden, um Einzelheiten ueber das GVO erfahren zu koennen,

    die Internetadresse der Datenbank (Biosafety Clearing House).


    Interpretation dieser Struktur


    Die Kennzeichnung "may contain (koennte enthalten sein)" war von den NGOs und vielen Importstaaten von GVOs bisher stark abgelehnt worden. Sie wollten die Dokumentationspflicht - und damit auch Teil der Risikoeinschaetzung - moeglichst weitgehend auf die Exportstaaten uebertragen wissen.


    "May contain" ist jetzt zwar eine Moeglichkeit, aber eingeschraenkt auf einen bestimmten Fall, i.d.R. die "verschmutzen Laender der Vergangenheit". Die Einschraenkung ist ein gewisser Erfolg. Allerding haben jetzt Laender die Option, gentechnische Zulassungen auch neu auszusprechen ohne Identitaetssicherungssysteme fuer GVO-freie Linien oder fuer eindeutige GVO-Linien. Jedes Land kann selbst bestimmen, ob es die Inhalte kennt oder nicht.


    Die Aufllistung aller zugelassenen Sorten bei einer Kulturpflanze als moegliche transgene Inhalte waere keine kluge Strategie fuer Exporteure, weil die meisten Importstaaten viele dieser Sorten nicht zugelassen haben, und bei nicht-zugelassenen Sorten hat jedes Land, das Gentechnikgesetze hat, eine 0-Toleranz. Die Schiffsladung muesste zurueckgeschickt werden, die auch nur eine Sorte erwaehnt, die keine Zulassung im Importland hat.


    Die Einigung sieht explizit vor, dass die Dokumentierung in Uebereinstimmung sein muss mit den Regelungen des Importlandes. D.h. die Importlaender haben die Freiheit, sich eigene Gesetze zu geben. Sie koennen nicht-zugelassene transgene Ereignisse zurueckweisen.


    Uebergangsfrist


    Brasilien wollte eine Uebergangsfrist von 4 Jahren, bevor sie zu einer reinen Version von klarer Ausweisung (may contain) kommen. Diese Frist ist in dem Vertragstext nicht aufgenommen, aber auch verlaengert worden. Der Text sieht vor, das ueber das Ausnahmefenster mit "may contain" bei der 6. Vertragsstaatenkonferenz von MOP im Jahre 2012 wieder verhandelt wird. Die Erfahrungen sollen ausgewertet und die Entscheidung ueber diese Ausnahme ueberprueft werden. Der Text ist so abgefasst, dass die Ausnahme eher auf Dauer geschaltet ist, denn es heist: "with a view to considering a decision".


    NGOs haben an dieser Stelle maechtig verloren, die Exportstaaten (und Miami-Gruppe) gewonnen. Das Ergebnis geht weit ueber den brasilianischen Vorschlag hinaus und waessert die Informationspflichten auf.



    Unbeabsichtigte Anwesenheit von GVO


    Der Text spricht lediglich davon, dass die "unbeabsichtigte Anwesentheit"von GVO-Sequenzen dann nicht aufgelistet zu werden braucht, wenn es sich um eine Verschnutzung ueber Artgrenzen hinaus handelt. Daraus ist zu schliessen:

    Wenn es sich um eine Verschmutzung von GVO handelt, die bei der gleichen Kulturart in Anwendung ist, muss diese aufgelistet werden (also z.B. Mais Bt 10 in Mais Bt 11),

    Der Text nennt keine Schadschwellen. Folglich gelten die Schadschwellen des Importlandes.


    Die NGO sind mit diesen Bestimmungen recht zufrieden. Sie haben ein wenig verloren, weil weder das Wort "Schadschwellen" im Text erwaehnt wird, noch eine internationale Schadschwelle festgesetzt wurde. Es haette aber viel schlimmer kommen koennen.


    Begleitdokument


    Die von den NGOs und vielen Laendern vorgetragene Forderung nach einem extra Begleitdokument mit dem umstrittene Begriff "stand alone document" taucht im Text nicht auf. Das ist eine Niederlage. Stattdessen wird gesagt, die Dokumentation soll in einer Art und Weise erfolgen, dass die Informationen leicht zu erkennen, uebertragbar, zugaenglich sind und in einer effektiven Art integriert sind. Daraus koennte man folgern, dass nur spezielle Begleitdokumente diesen Auflagen genuegen. Es muss aber nicht sein.


    Laender ohne Gentechnikgesetze


    Es gibt keine Regelung fuer sie. Mitgliedslaender des Cartagena Protokolls muessen eine Regulierung einfuehren, um die Rechte unter dem Cartagena Protokoll in nationale Gesetze zu ueberfuehren. Nur dann koennen sie von den Rechten von dem Cartagena Protokoll profitieren. Laender, die noch keine gesetzliche Grundlage fuer die Anerkennung und eigenen Riskobewertung haben, haben nicht das Recht, irgendwelche Warenlieferungen wegen Gentechnik zurueckzuweisen. Sie werden und bleiben Dumping-Ground fuer unidentifizierbare Mischungen von GVO.

    Weitere Bestimmungen

     

    Entwicklungsländern sind Mittel in Aussicht gestellt worden zur sog. "Capacity Building" im Zusammenhang mit der Umsetzung dieser Übereinkunft.

     

    Bilaterale und regionale Abkommen

     

    Die Präambel der Übereinkunft hält fest, dass Vertragsparteien auch bilaterale, regionale und multilaterale Abkommen schliessen köennen, die Verpflichtungen zur Identifizierung von GVO in Warenlieferungen einschließen. Dieser Zusammenhang war Mexiko besonders wichtig, weil Mexiko mit den USA und Kanada, zwei Nichtvertragsparteien zum Cartagena Protokoll, einen bilateralen Vertrag abgeschlossen hat, der sehr lasche Regeln beinhaltet. Dass diese Regelung auch für Verträge mit Nichtvertragsparteien gilt, wurde nachträglich noch aufgenommen.

    Testmethoden

     

    Die 4. Vertragsstaatenkonferenz (2008 in Deutschland) soll sich mit den Methoden und der Technik der Probeentnahmen und Testverfahren beschäftigen, um hier zu einheitlichen Kriterien der Akzeptanz zu kommen.

     


    Curitiba, d. 17.3.06
  • UN food standards body to address GMO labelling
    May 3 2006, Ottawa, Canada: After a highly polarised debate, the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL), the UN food standards body, decided today to set up a new Working Group to prepare guidance on labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods. More than 60 countries are attending the CCFL meeting this week in Ottawa.
    'Consumers need labels on GM foods to protect themselves from possible allergic reactions' said David Cuming, Senior Campaigns Officer with Consumers ...
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  • WTO plays God over transgenics
    The WTO dispute settlement body's (DSB) final verdict on Europe's de facto moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and food comes at a time when India is busy finalising its labeling norms on GMOs.
    The WTO dispute settlement body's (DSB) final verdict on Europe's de facto moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and food comes at a ...
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  • EU to hold firm on modified seeds despite WTO
    GENEVA The European Union vowed Thursday to maintain its system for approving genetically engineered seeds, after the World Trade Organization confirmed a ruling that found the previous approvals practices too slow.
    In a confidential ruling, WTO arbitrators on Wednesday confirmed a February decision that said the EU's former ban on new biotech seeds from companies ...
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  • American Soyabean Association Calls EU Traceability & Labeling Review a Whitewash
    Saint Louis, Missouri... May 10, 2006... On behalf of its 25,000 U.S. soybean producer-members, the American Soybean Association (ASA) is outraged by the conclusions adopted today by the European Commission on the trade impact European Union (EU) Traceability & Labeling laws for biotechnology-derived products have had on exports of U.S. agricultural products.
    "The EU's biotech labeling and tracing rules have had a significant negative effect on U.S. exports of food and agricultural products to the EU," ...
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  • From Curitiba to African farms, spreading biosafety knowledge
    From Uganda in the east to Senegal in the west, farmers across Africa have little knowledge about the uses and risks of GM farming. They need to know, because GM crops are seen by some experts as a way out of poverty and hunger. Ebenezer T. Bifubyeka asks African delegates at the Convention on Biological Diversity in Curitiba what they plan to do to spread awareness.
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  • Brazil Judge Says GMO Soy Can Ship From Paranagua
    SAO PAULO, Brazil - Genetically modified soybeans are now permitted to pass through Brazil"s main grain port of Paranagua
    SAO PAULO, Brazil - Genetically modified soybeans are now permitted topass through Brazil"s main grain port of Paranagua, suspending a long- standing state ...
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  • DECISION ON GURTs TECHNOLOGIES
    DECISION ON GURTs TECHNOLOGIES, ADOPTED BY THE WORKING GROUP I TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLENARY OF THE CBD CONFERENCE; COP 8 IN CURITIBA
    7. Reaffirms decision V/5, section III (Genetic use restriction technologies); 8. Encourages Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations, and ...
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  • Terminator rejection - a victory for the people
    Curitiba Friday March 24 A broad coalition of peasant farmers, indigenous peoples and civil society today celebrate the firm rejection of efforts to undermine the global moratorium on Terminator technologies - genetically engineered sterile seeds - at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Curitiba, Brazil.
    "This is a momentous day for the 1,4 billion poor people world wide, whodepend on farmer saved seeds," said Francisca Rodriguez of Via Campesina a ...
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  • COP-8 decided to keep the de-facto on Terminator
    20 minutes ago, the delegates of COP-8 decided to keep the de-facto moratorium of Terminator field trials and commercialization as stated in the decision V/5 from COP-5. The controversial new text from the recently convened CBD working group on Art.8j - dealing with the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities over their traditional knowledge - was rejected in total. The COP-8 decision - which has to be adopted formally on Friday 31 March - is based on the text submitted by the CBD scientific body SBSTTA and explicitly reaffirmes Decision V/5.
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  • Analysis of key decision at Biosafety Protocol meeting
    The 3rd Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (under the Convention on Biological Diversity), which met from 13-17 March in Curitiba, Brazil, adopted several decisions which have significant implications for the production and the trade of genetically modified organisms.
    The process by which the most important decision (relating to Article 18.2(a) of the Protocol, on identification requirements for shipments of commodities ...
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  • Cereal suppliers cautious over new GM trade rules
    The adoption of detailed documentation requirements for genetically modified (GM) food in the international trade of agricultural commodities has been met with caution by grain and cereal importers.
    Coceral, the body representing the European cereals, rice, feedstuffs, oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply trade, is concerned that the additional ...
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  • Historic agreement on documentation for GMO shipments
    Agreement has finally been reached on international documentation requirements for bulk shipments of genetically modified commodity grains.
    After five days of intense talks under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, there are now international minimum standards that will better protect importing ...
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  • MOP 3 ends with agreement on documentation for LMO-FFPs
    The Third Meeting of the Parties (MOP 3) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ended on 17 March 2006, with agreement on Article 18.2(a), on the detailed requirements for how to identify and document shipments of genetically modified commodities.
    MOP 3 adopted a decision that requires clear and detailed identification requirements for shipments of GM commodities (known as "living modified organisms ...
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  • Analysis of the Text of the Accord
    Analysis of the Text of the Agreement on Implementation of Article 18.2, as adopted by MOP 3 in Curitiba/Brazil The draft text, on which the negotiations the last days of the Conference have been based, has been submitted by the Brazilian government. Its proposal constituted a turn in the spirit of the debate.
    Basic Structure of the Agreement The agreement made the distinction between "known identity" of GMO presence in a shipment,and "unknown ...
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  • Press Release by the Church Development Service EED of Germany
    International Conference on Biotec Trade Concluded in Brazil with a Dubious Result
    The community of 132 Member States to the Convention on Biological Safety agreed on rules for labeling of food and feed in international trade, in case they ...
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  • Dramtic Turn at the End of the International Biotec-Conference
    In the last minute shortly befor the Conference of the Members of the Cartagena Protocol comes to an end, the delegation of Mexico withdrew its approval of the final text and isolates itself from the rest of the world.
    At the Conference of the Members of Party to the Cartagena Protocol in Curitiba/Brazil, the Mexican government made a surprising turn and withdrew its approval ...
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  • Mexico and Paraguay Block Agreement on Biosafety
    During the MOP3 Mexico put up the strongest resistance, stating that it does not want mandatory labeling for cross-border shipments containing GMOs.
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  • MOP3: On the edge of the knife
    Shortly bevor the conference on the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety (MOP3) ends an agreement is not in sight. The delegates negotiate around the clock on basis ...
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  • Confrontation in Curitba Conference is Tapering
    New Zealand gets chary, but Paraguay comes in as new blockade
    The international negotiations of the Members of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which take place this week in Curitiba/South Brazil, enter the home ...
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  • Africans absent from key biosafety talks
    Many African countries are absent from this week"s international Biosafety Protocol meeting in Brazil because they cannot afford to send their delegates to it,
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  • Victims of Glyphosate
    The pain and suffering of victims of toxic agrochemicals invaded the international negotiations on biosafety in Curitiba.(IPS)
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  • Brazil: Syngenta Plants Illegal Genetically Engineered Crop
    Over one thousand farmers occupied the site of an illegal field trial of GE soybeans planted by agro-biotech giant Syngenta in the National Park of Iguacu.
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  • Identification of transgenics is social conquest
    Brazil will uphold the use of the expression "it contains" for shipments of live, genetically modified organisms.(Ag?ncia Brasil)
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  • Biosafety: To label or not to label...
    While 5000 delegates discuss the official texts, the protest movement against GMOs is expected in even stronger numbers.(indymedia)
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  • Transgenic Crops Make Their Mark
    Genetically modified organisms are leaving an indelible mark on several Latin American countries, regardless of the standards for their use.(ips)
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  • Mounting concern about NZ stance at biosafety conference
    There is growing concern about the stance New Zealand is taking at a global conference on biosafety in Brazil this week.
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  • Trade Rules over Envirnomental Rules?
    The US Institut for Agriculture and Trade Policy, IATP, from Minneapolis has released a study, according to which the WTO Panel Ruling on the GM Policy of the EU has decided that the Cartagena Protocol is irrelevant, in case one side in the dispute settlement procedure of WTO is not a member of this Protocol.
    While delegations from 132 member countries of the Cartagena Protocol meet in Curitiba/Brazil, to negotiate rules on biological safety, how to implement the ...
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  • Brazil to Press for Global Biodiversity Regime
    Curbing the loss of biodiversity and achieving an international regime governing access to genetic resources will be the two top priorities of Brazil, Environment Minister Marina da Silva told IPS.
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  • Global Civil Society Forum mobilizes civil organizations
    Outside the Convention Center, which is holding the Meeting about Biosafety (MOP-3), approximately 700 members of Brazilian social movements are gathered in the Global Civil Society Forum.
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  • Brazil backs stronger GMO export labeling
    (Reuters) - Brazilian exports of genetically modified organisms, such as soybeans, will bear the label "contains GMOs" within four years, the environment ministry said late Monday.
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  • Brazil"s Doubts on Labelling of Transgenic Products
    (IPS) - The third meeting of the parties to the global biosafety treaty kicked off Monday in this southern Brazilian city on a certain note of mystery: the 800 negotiators and observers from 116 countries still have no idea what the host country"s position is on the most controversial issue to be negotiated at this gathering: the labelling of transgenic products.
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  • Brazil Government in Discord over Genetic Engineering ?
    Irritation at the Opening of the Biosafety Conference The Goveneur of Parana" confronts the international delegates with his radical stand against unidentified GMO exports
    In the South Brazil city of Curitiba the biggest UN environment meeting since ?Rio ? 10 Years after? from Johannisburg four years ago started today, March ...
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  • MOP3 highlighted on biosaftey information center
    The 3rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 3) will be held from 13-17 March 2006 in Curitiba, Brazil. As part of the preparations for the meeting, TWN has made available a series of briefings and reports produced by us and others on our website www.biosafety-info.net.
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  • New Forms of GMOs Highlight Biosecurity Loophole
    Threats posed by new forms of GMOs under development represent a fundamental challenge to New Zealand's approach to biosecurity labelling requirements.
    Food plants genetically engineered to produce pharmaceuticals andindustrial substances are being field trialled in the US and carry awholly different level of ...
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  • GMO contamination, identification and Article 18.2(a)
    At stake at the 3rd Meeting of the Parties (MOP 3) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is whether we continue to allow contamination of bulk commodity shipments of GMOs, or whether we put in place a system that will protect countries which do not have the laws or regulations (most developing countries) that the exporting countries themselves have to protect against this contamination.
    At stake is also the ability to track and trace particular GMOs, which is necessary for many important biosafety functions, such as monitoring, emergency ...
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  • GM Contamination Report: Full Report
    This report is the first from the on-line GM Contamination Register and reviews cases reported in the public and scientific literature of contamination, illegal plantings and releases of GM organisms, and negative agricultural side-effects since GM crops were first grown commercially on a large scale in 1996.
    more ...
  • GM Contamination Report: Full Report
    This report is the first from the on-line GM Contamination Register and reviews cases reported in the public and scientific literature of contamination, illegal plantings and releases of GM organisms, and negative agricultural side-effects since GM crops were first grown commercially on a large scale in 1996.
    more ...
  • Action: Please send letters to President Lula and his ministers.
    The letter comes at the critical point in the Brazilian governments internal debate whether to keep a destructive pro-agribusiness 'may contain' position or to go with the majority of countries for a clear and precise identification and labelling of GMOs in international food and feed shipments.
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  • Liability and redress - working group met in Montreal
    There were no breakthroughs but some progress made on the contentious issue of how to establish regulations on liability for potential damage from GMOs at the 2nd meeting of the working group, which is to present a proposal to the Parties of the Biosafety Protocol in 2007. Earth Negotiations Bulletin - ENB SSummary Second Meeting of Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Liability and Redress , Cartagena Protocol - Monday, 27 February 2006 posted Monday, February 27, 2006
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  • EU council of ministers adopt Curitiba mandate 9 March
    'With regard to the meeting of the Parties to the Biosafety Protocol - which governs the cross-border transport of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - the draft Conclusions call for the finalisation of detailed documentation requirements for international shipments of genetically modified agricultural commodities. They also highlight the role of capacity building measures, particularly in the field of risk assessment, as a prerequisite for the Protocol's effective implementation. For MOP-3, the Council is also due to adopt a Decision providing the Commission with a mandate to negotiate on behalf of the EU. EU-Commission Press Release
    more ...
  • APEC Officials to Share Views on Cartagena Protocol
    by Rudolf Buntzel, EED - Church Development Service
    Ha Noi, Viet Nam - High level representatives from around the APECRegion are meeting in Viet Nam today to identify and evaluate policyconcerns related to ...
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  • map of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops and Foods: Worldwide Regulation, Prohibition and Production
    the map show which countrie: Signed the Biosafety Protocol; Ratified the Biosafety Protocol; Enforce required labeling laws; Enforce a moratorium or ban on commercialization; Have rejected GM food aid; Have regional regulations.
    more ...
  • World Trade Organisation GM dispute - secret report leaked
    Initial analysis of the report shows that despite claims of victory by the US government and the biotechnology industry, the US-led coalition failed to win many of their arguments against Europe. However, the WTO ruled that national GMO bans are illegal and it is likely that countries with bans in place will be put under renewed pressure to lift them. (Friends of the Earth Europe)
    more ...
  • Call for participation in global civil societyforum
    during MOP-3 on the protocol of biosafty and COP-8 of the convention on biological diversity in Curitiba (March 2006)
    Dear colleagues; We would like to reiterate the invitation to participate in the Global Civil Society Forum that will be organized during MOP3 and ...
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  • The State of Discussion about Documentation in International Trade with GM-Food
    by Rudolf Buntzel, EED - Church Development Service
    In the last MOP (Member of Party) Brazil, New Zealand blocked decision on documentation of GMOs Negotiations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ...
    more ...
  • Brazil, New Zealand block decision on documentation of GMOs
    by Rudolf Buntzel, EED - Church Development Service
    Montreal, 4 June 2005 (Lim Li Ching and Lim Li Lin) - Negotiations under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety collapsed on the issue of documentation ...
    more ...