* Europe and developing countries claim partial victory
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India News: Bio-safety meet overlooks concerns of Indian farmers
27-February-2004
New Delhi, The focus on social and economic concerns of developing countries like India about genetically modified crops and technology are notable by their absence at the ongoing convention on bio-safety in Kuala Lumpur, an Indian expert says.
"Discussions at the Bio-safety Protocol meetings in Kuala Lumpur were not focussing on the social and economic aspects even though some country delegations including India, but specially the African Union had flagged the issue," said Suman Sahai of the noted NGO Gene Campaign in a statement issued here Thursday.
The Bio-safety Protocol (BSP) is part of the three-week convention on Biological Diversity that will conclude Feb 27.
Sahai expressed anxiety that even developing country delegations negotiating the BSP have not given sufficient emphasis to this crucial clause, which has not come to the forefront of the discussions despite being part of the BSP (Article 26).
"It is short sighted to overlook the fact that genetically modified technology could turn out to be counter productive in the agricultural economies of developing countries," Sahai said.
She referred to the threat posed by genetically modified research in the west that is attempting to produce the characteristics of coconut and palm oil in the more common canola, a form of mustard.
Canola grows in temperate countries whereas coconut and oil palm is produced in the tropics. Many farmers in Asia earn a livelihood from the export of coconut and palm oil, both of which are sought after in the US and Europe for their special properties like high lauric acid content.
"When genetically modified technology creates the canola plants that produce high lauric acid oils, it would mean the loss of markets for farmers growing coconuts and oil palm in countries like India and Malaysia," Sahai said.
"Given the potential of genetically modified technology to damage the agricultural prospects of developing countries, the social and economic impact of the technology must be taken on board in the international agreements on bio-safety, through the Bio-safety Protocol," said Sahai.
Indo-Asian News Service
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Europe OKs New Rules for Biotech Labels
Friday February 27, 2004
By SEAN YOONG
Associated Press Writer
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Europe and developing countries claimed a partial victory over the United States on Friday when a conference of 80 nations agreed to new rules for the labeling of genetically modified commodity shipments despite U.S. objections.
The United States expressed frustration, saying other countries rushed into decisions that might disrupt international trade.
"Our biggest disappointment is that countries are moving down a path away from practical steps very quickly in a direction that could have consequences," said Deborah Malac, chief of the U.S. State Department's Biotechnology Trade Policy Division.
Government officials wrapped up the conference on biotech safety with what they hoped would be a major step toward enforcing global trade rules for biologically altered foods by late 2005.
The European-led bloc successfully lobbied for more detailed information to be contained in identification papers that accompany bio-engineered shipments - a move the United States, the world's largest exporter of biologically altered food, argued was unnecessary.
Countries also agreed to set up an expert group to negotiate an international liability regime that lets people seek compensation from biotech exporters if transgenic organisms contaminate their environment or harm their health.
The measures form the basis for implementing the U.N. Cartagena Protocol, which aims to protect biological diversity by ensuring exporters give enough information about gene-altered products so that countries can choose whether to reject them.
Washington was allowed to voice its opinions - but not participate in making decisions - because it has not signed the protocol, which 86 countries and the European Union have ratified.
Most governments are expected to set up new facilities to evaluate genetically altered shipments and specialized customs offices to enforce the protocol's requirements by September 2005.
The United States tussled repeatedly with Europe, Africa and many developing nations about key implementation issues throughout five days of talks in Kuala Lumpur. It was the first time countries formally discussed the protocol since it came into force last September.
Progress was glacial, but delegates managed to hammer out crucial compromises by Friday morning, especially in the most contentious issue of how much details should be included on labels and identification papers for transgenic shipments.
Officials agreed that documents should contain the scientific name and characteristics of genetically modified ingredients.
The U.S. delegation, which argued that specific labeling is unnecessary and would hinder trade, complained about the outcome.
"We came here in a cooperative spirit to find a rational way forward," Malac said. "We believe we are still very much at risk of running into countries implementing laws and regulations that might create a lot of unpredictability."
But Christoph Bail, head of Global Biodiversity in the European Environment Commission, said the European Union was satisfied, especially by winning commitment from countries that they will try to comply with protocol obligations.
"We are pleased, we have achieved our objectives," Bail said. "The message that has been sent to the U.S. is that we are firm to make this protocol work. The message is, please do not try to undermine the protocol."
Environmentalists criticized the compromise for not making other details compulsory as well, such as how the products had been altered.
"These requirements are not sufficient to protect the environment and the food chain from contamination," said Greenpeace spokeswoman Doreen Stabinsky. "But they are an important first step that governments should implement immediately."