GMOs release blocked at World Conservation Congress

 www.chinaview.cn 2004-11-23

BANGKOK, Nov. 23 (Xinhuanet)-- The World Conservation Union
(IUCN) has agreed to impose a moratorium on the further release of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in a bid to guard against its possible adverse effect on biological resources, local press reported here on Tuesday.

After discussion among 1,000 plus IUCN members, the congress approved the proposed resolution, which demanded a moratorium on further release of GMOs until it can be demonstrated posing no threat to biodiversity and human and animal health.

According to the resolution, GMO products have been introduced and promoted across the world, especially in developing countries, with inadequate control on their entry into national or regional markets.

So far, the potential role of GMOs in achieving global food security has not been adequatedly defined.

The resolution set one-year deadline for the director-general of IUCN to compile a report on GMOs' impacts on biodiversity and human health.
Although the IUCN resolution were not legally binding, the member countries were morally obliged to carry out the adopted items, Schwann Tunhikorn, of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants, was quoted by Bangkok Post newspaper as saying.

The assembly on Monday approved another motion calling on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Mekong river riparian states to crack down on illegal wildlife trade by making related law enforcement more effective and reinforcing controls on airportand land borders. End item