1.What is the IUCN?
2.IUCN CALLS FOR A MORATORIUM ON THE FURTHER RELEASE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
3.The full motion
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1.What is the IUCN?
http://www.iucn.org/about/index.htm

IUCN [The World Conservation Union] is a unique Union. Its members from some 140 countries include 77 States, 114 government agencies, and 800-plus NGOs. More than 10,000 internationally-recognised scientists and experts from more than 180 countries volunteer their services to its six global commissions. Its 1000 staff members in offices around the world are working on some 500 projects.

For more than 50 years this Green Web of partnerships has generated environmental conventions, global standards, scientific knowledge and innovative leadership.

"IUCN builds bridges between governments and NGOs, science and society, local action and global policy. It is truly a world force for environmental governance." Achim Steiner, IUCN Director General
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2.IUCN CALLS FOR A MORATORIUM ON THE FURTHER RELEASE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs)
22 November 2004 ( 125 )
www.iucn.org/congress/index.cfm

Today, IUCN Members called for a moratorium on the further release of genetically modified organisms. At the Members Business Assembly, the amended resolution "A moratorium on the further release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)" (revised CGR3.RES011-Rev1) was approved with 84 votes of State Members in favour of it, 48 against and 12 not taking a position. Amongst the NGO Members, 219 voted in favour of the resolution, 22 against and 59 abstained. Each State Member has three votes, NGO Members have one.
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3.The full motion text (minus ammendment) is CGR3.RES011 in a PDF:
http://www.iucn.org/congress/members/MotionsEngFin1-for-web.pdf

CGR3.RES011
A moratorium on the further release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

RECALLING that the IUCN Intersessional Programme Framework adopted at the 2nd IUCN World Conservation Congress (Amman, 2000) included a request to play a major role in identifying and defining issues that affect biodiversity and that attention be paid to environmental impacts of biotechnology;

APPRECIATING that Resolution 2.31 (Genetically Modified Organisms and bio-diversity), which was adopted at the 2nd IUCN World Conservation Congress (Amman, 2000), noted two key concerns regarding GMOs, namely: (a) the potential for significant reduction or loss of biodiversity, as a result of releases of GMOs into the environment; and (b) the potential role of GMOs in "achieving global food security" which it notes "have not been adequately demonstrated so far";

NOTING that there has been a promotion of GMO products worldwide, especially in developing countries, with little or no controls on their entry into national or regional markets; and that there is growing concern over their safety for human and animal health;

FURTHER NOTING that a balance must be made between the potential negative impact GMOs have on biodiversity and human and animal health on the one hand and the positive benefits they may have in achieving global food security;

RECOGNISING that the precautionary approach as set out in Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development is not an overarching one but rather an aspect in the evaluation and management of risks relating to GMOs;

AWARE that the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has incorporated the precautionary approach in determining risk management as to what is an acceptable level of risk;

OBSERVING that GMO use and introductions are controlled primarily by the private sector, whose incentives for development and marketing may be greater than for assessing potential problems;

AWARE of the public concern that GMO technology needs to be more transparent particularly in the biosafety area; and

WELCOMING the Key Result Areas in the draft IUCN Intersessional Programme 2005â_"2008 which take into consideration the impact of GMOs on biodiversity, such as calling upon key private sector companies to integrate biodiversity into their corporate social responsibilities and actions;

The World Conservation at its 3rd Session in Bangkok, Thailand, 17-25 November 2004:

1. CALLS for a moratorium on further environmental releases of GMOs until they can be demonstrated to be safe beyond reasonable doubt;

2. REQUESTS the Council to prepare policy guidance for sustainable GMOs through a multifaceted approach during the next intersessional period;

3. REQUESTS IUCN to promote and support initiatives to ratify the Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity; and

4. URGES IUCN to encourage public awareness and promote access to information.

Sponsors:

Ecological Society of the Philippines, Philippines
Environmental Foundation Ltd. (Sri Lanka), Sri Lanka
Centre for Sustainable Development, Bangladesh
Ochranársje a kultúrne zdruzenie poiplia, Slovakia
The Wilderness Society, Australia
Tibet Justice Center, USA
Zdruznie Národnych Parkov a Chránenych Uzemi Slovenska, Slovakia
Slovenska Ekologicka Spolocnost, Slovakia
DAPHNE-Institut aplikovanej ekologie, Slovakia
Statna ochrana prÃ_rody Slovenskej republiky, Slovakia
Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Denmark
Al-Khat Al Akhdar (Green Line Association), Lebanon

RWG COMMENT:
This motion should be considered with the motion entitled CGR3.RES061 - Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Biodiversity. Given the policy implications, the preamble should reflect the different sides to the GMO debate and note the position statement Council has adopted.
This motion and CGR3.RES061 are referred to an ad hoc contact group to: a) assess the perspectives provided by each, and b) prepare a consolidated draft. If the consolidated text implicates the Programme, the motion will be referred to the Programme Committee for assessment.