- Objective
- Scope
- Definitions
- General provisions
- Advance informed agreement procedure
- Risk assessment and risk management
- Handling, transport and packaging
- Information exchange
- Capacity building and transfer of technology
- Institutional arrangements
- Relationship with other international agreements
- Final provisions
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty adopted in Montreal, Canada on January 29, 2000. The Protocol aims to ensure the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
The Protocol entered into force on September 11, 2003. As of January 2023, 168 countries have ratified the Protocol.
The Protocol is based on the precautionary principle, which states that if there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
The Protocol’s objective is to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and to provide for appropriate procedures for the advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure, in the safe transfer, handling and use of such organisms.
The Protocol’s scope includes all living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, that are intentionally introduced into the environment of a Party for any purpose, and all living modified organisms that are unintentionally introduced into the environment of a Party.
The Protocol defines a living modified organism as an organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
The Protocol’s general provisions include the principle of sovereignty over natural resources, the precautionary principle, the principle of prior informed consent, the principle of public participation, and the principle of access to information.
The Protocol’s advance informed agreement procedure (AIA) is a mechanism for ensuring that countries are informed about and have the opportunity to make decisions about the import of living modified organisms. The AIA procedure applies to all living modified organisms that are intended for intentional introduction into the environment of a Party for any purpose, except for those that are contained in products that have been approved for environmental release by a Party.
The Protocol’s risk assessment and risk management provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are not likely to have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. These measures include risk assessment, risk management, and monitoring.
The Protocol’s handling, transport and packaging provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are handled, transported and packaged in a manner that prevents or minimizes the risks to biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
The Protocol’s information exchange provisions require Parties to exchange information on living modified organisms, including information on risk assessment and risk management, and on the implementation of the Protocol.
The Protocol’s capacity building and transfer of technology provisions require Parties to cooperate in the development and promotion of capacity building and the transfer of technology in the field of biosafety, in particular to developing countries.
The Protocol’s institutional arrangements provisions establish a Conference of the Parties (COP) and a Subsidiary Body on Biosafety (SBSTA). The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Protocol. The SBSTA is a technical body that provides advice and recommendations to the COP.
The Protocol’s relationship with other international agreements provisions require Parties to take into account the provisions of other international agreements that are relevant to the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.
The Protocol’s final provisions include provisions on signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, entry into force, amendment, withdrawal, and authentic texts.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty adopted in Montreal, Canada on January 29, 2000. The Protocol aims to ensure the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
The Protocol entered into force on September 11, 2003. As of January 2023, 168 countries have ratified the Protocol.
The Protocol is based on the precautionary principle, which states that if there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
The Protocol’s objective is to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and to provide for appropriate procedures for the advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure, in the safe transfer, handling and use of such organisms.
The Protocol’s scope includes all living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, that are intentionally introduced into the environment of a Party for any purpose, and all living modified organisms that are unintentionally introduced into the environment of a Party.
The Protocol defines a living modified organism as an organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
The Protocol’s general provisions include the principle of sovereignty over natural resources, the precautionary principle, the principle of prior informed consent, the principle of public participation, and the principle of access to information.
The Protocol’s advance informed agreement procedure (AIA) is a mechanism for ensuring that countries are informed about and have the opportunity to make decisions about the import of living modified organisms. The AIA procedure applies to all living modified organisms that are intended for intentional introduction into the environment of a Party for any purpose, except for those that are contained in products that have been approved for environmental release by a Party.
The Protocol’s risk assessment and risk management provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are not likely to have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. These measures include risk assessment, risk management, and monitoring.
The Protocol’s handling, transport and packaging provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are handled, transported and packaged in a manner that prevents or minimizes the risks to biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
The Protocol’s information exchange provisions require Parties to exchange information on living modified organisms, including information on risk assessment and risk management, and on the implementation of the Protocol.
The Protocol’s capacity building and transfer of technology provisions require Parties to cooperate in the development and promotion of capacity building and the transfer of technology in the field of biosafety, in particular to developing countries.
The Protocol’s institutional arrangements provisions establish a Conference of the Parties (COP) and a Subsidiary Body on Biosafety (SBSTA). The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Protocol. The SBSTA is a technical body that provides advice and recommendations to the COP.
The Protocol’s relationship with other international agreements provisions require Parties to take into account the provisions of other international agreements that are relevant to the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.
The Protocol’s final provisions include provisions on signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, entry into force, amendment, withdrawal, and authentic texts.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an important international agreement that aims to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms. The Protocol has been ratified by 168 countries, and it has played a significant role in the development of international biosafety law.
The Protocol’s advance informed agreement procedure (AIA) is one of its most important features. The AIA procedure requires countries to provide prior informed consent (PIC) to other countries before importing living modified organisms. This helps to ensure that countries have the opportunity to assess the risks of living modified organisms before they are imported into their territory.
The Protocol also includes provisions on risk assessment, risk management, and handling, transport and packaging of living modified organisms. These provisions help to ensure that living modified organisms are handled in a safe manner and that their potential risks are minimized.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an important tool for protecting biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms. The Protocol has been ratified by 168 countries, and it has played a significant role in the development of international biosafety law.
Objective
The objective of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and to provide for appropriate procedures for the advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure, in the safe transfer, handling and use of such organisms.
Scope
The scope of the Protocol includes all living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, that are intentionally introduced into the environment of a Party for any purpose, and all living modified organisms that are unintentionally introduced into the environment of a Party.
Definitions
The Protocol defines a living modified organism as an organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
General provisions
The Protocol’s general provisions include the principle of sovereignty over natural resources, the precautionary principle, the principle of prior informed consent, the principle of public participation, and the principle of access to information.
Advance informed agreement procedure
The Protocol’s advance informed agreement procedure (AIA) is a mechanism for ensuring that countries are informed about and have the opportunity to make decisions about the import of living modified organisms. The AIA procedure applies to all living modified organisms that are intended for intentional introduction into the environment of a Party for any purpose, except for those that are contained in products that have been approved for environmental release by a Party.
Risk assessment and risk management
The Protocol’s risk assessment and risk management provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are not likely to have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. These measures include risk assessment, risk management, and monitoring.
Handling, transport and packaging
The Protocol’s handling, transport and packaging provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are handled, transported and packaged in a manner that prevents or minimizes the risks to biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
Information exchange
The Protocol’s information exchange provisions require Parties to exchange information on living modified organisms, including information on risk assessment and risk management, and on the implementation of the Protocol.
Capacity building and transfer of technology
The Protocol’s capacity building and transfer of technology provisions require Parties to cooperate in the development and promotion of capacity building and the transfer of technology in the field of biosafety, in particular to developing countries.
Institutional arrangements
The Protocol’s institutional arrangements provisions establish a Conference of the Parties (COP) and a Subsidiary Body on Biosafety (SBSTA). The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Protocol. The SBSTA is a technical body that provides advice and recommendations to the COP.
Relationship with other international agreements
The Protocol’s relationship with other international agreements provisions require Parties to take into account the provisions of other international agreements that are relevant to the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.
Final provisions
The Protocol’s final provisions include provisions on signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, entry into force, amendment, withdrawal, and authentic texts.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty adopted in Montreal, Canada on January 29, 2000. The Protocol aims to ensure the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
The Protocol entered into force on September 11, 2003. As of January 2023, 168 countries have ratified the Protocol.
The Protocol is based on the precautionary principle, which states that if there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
The Protocol’s objective is to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and to provide for appropriate procedures for the advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure, in the safe transfer, handling and use of such organisms.
The Protocol’s scope includes all living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, that are intentionally introduced into the environment of a Party for any purpose, and all living modified organisms that are unintentionally introduced into the environment of a Party.
The Protocol defines a living modified organism as an organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
The Protocol’s general provisions include the principle of sovereignty over natural resources, the precautionary principle, the principle of prior informed consent, the principle of public participation, and the principle of access to information.
The Protocol’s advance informed agreement procedure (AIA) is a mechanism for ensuring that countries are informed about and have the opportunity to make decisions about the import of living modified organisms. The AIA procedure applies to all living modified organisms that are intended for intentional introduction into the environment of a Party for any purpose, except for those that are contained in products that have been approved for environmental release by a Party.
The Protocol’s risk assessment and risk management provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are not likely to have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. These measures include risk assessment, risk management, and monitoring.
The Protocol’s handling, transport and packaging provisions require Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that living modified organisms are handled, transported and packaged in a manner that prevents or minimizes the risks to biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
The Protocol’s information exchange provisions require Parties to exchange information on living modified organisms, including information on risk assessment and risk management, and on the implementation of the Protocol.
The Protocol’s capacity building and transfer of technology provisions require Parties to cooperate in the development and promotion of capacity building and the transfer of technology in the field of biosafety, in particular to developing countries.
The Protocol’s institutional arrangements provisions establish a Conference of the Parties (COP) and a Subsidiary Body on Biosafety (SBSTA). The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Protocol. The SBSTA is a technical body that provides advice and recommendations to the COP.
The Protocol’s relationship with other international agreements provisions require Parties to take into account the provisions of other international agreements that are relevant to the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.
The Protocol’s final provisions include provisions on signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, entry into force, amendment, withdrawal, and authentic texts.
Here are some MCQs on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety:
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety aims to:
(a) Ensure the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.
(b) Protect biological diversity from the adverse effects of living modified organisms.
(c) Promote the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms.
(d) All of the above.The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety entered into force on:
(a) January 29, 2000.
(b) September 11, 2003.
(c) January 1, 2004.
(d) None of the above.The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is based on the principle of:
(a) Sovereignty over natural resources.
(b) Precautionary principle.
(c) Prior informed consent.
(d) All of the above.The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety defines a living modified organism as an organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of:
(a) Modern biotechnology.
(b) Genetic engineering