TL: BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL - Press Advisory 1
SO: Greenpeace International, (GP)
DT: May, 1998

International rules needed to control proliferation of genetically
engineered organisms


Like any new technology, the use of genetic engineering needs to be
controlled. The international community is only now learning to
understand the complexities inherent in this new technology.
Unfortunately the products have superseded the legislation.


In September 1997 the US Environmental Protection Agency approved the
use of a soil bacteria called Rhizobia which has been genetically
engineered to make plants grow more vigorously by providing them
nitrogen. GE Rhizobia bacteria was approved to be used in 3 million
acres (1.2 million hectares) this year. 


There are however several problems with GE Rhizobia. Even if the
bacteria worked as planned, it would benefit weeds which would grow
more vigorously. But the bacteria can also go terribly wrong by
rendering soil infertile by outcompeting its natural counterparts. 


Furthermore the genetically engineered Rhizobia carries two antibiotic
resistance genes which may be transferred to other bacteria. One of
these genes gives resistance against streptomycin which has become
increasingly useful for the treatment of tuberculosis due to
resistance building against other antibiotics.


The most alarming aspect of the soil bacteria is that it can be
distributed by water or e.g. carried away on the soles of shoes. It
may almost certainly get transferred across national boundaries. So
the US EPA has given a de facto global authorisation for a genetically
altered bacteria that can persist in soil for many years. 


GE Rhizobia approval reveals the potential risks and legal problems of
genetic engineering. On May 4-15 1998 the world's Environment
Ministers will gather in Bratislava, Slovakia at the Fourth Conference
of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Part of
the negotiation is a time table for the regulation on the
proliferation of genetically engineered organisms. 


This regulation is known as "the Biosafety Protocol".


What is the Biosafety Protocol?


Over 170 governments have so far signed the CBD. Article 19 of the
Convention includes a proposal for a protocol regulating transfer,
handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In November
1995, at the 2nd Conference of Parties in Jakarta, it was decided to
establish a negotiation process for a biosafety protocol. 


The negotiations are taking place in the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working
Group on Biosafety which has met four times since 1996. At the Fourth
Conference of Parties of the CBD in Bratislava a time line for the
negotiations will be set.


Greenpeace's concerns


What is known about genetic engineering is that it is a risky
business. Once released, GMOs may survive, multiply and spread,
causing irreversible damage to web of life and interdependency between
species.


The large-scale growing of genetically engineered crops may place
biological diversity at risk as a result of gene flow from GE crops to
their wild relatives. The hybridisation of the GMO varieties with
their wild relatives is also likely to lead to the loss or permanent
alteration of the wild species. This is only one of several problems
related to genetic engineering. 


Given the risks already known about releasing GMOs into the
environment, let alone what is not yet known about the long-term
negative environmental impacts, Greenpeace considers that the
precautionary principle must a basis for any decisions on evaluating
risks to biological diversity. In the absence of scientific certainty
about the effects of GMOs they cannot be considered safe. 


Greenpeace considers that the release and use of GMOs creates
unnecessary and high risks for the environment for which full
responsibility must be taken. Rules to allocate liability and
compensation in the event of damage would provide incentives for
environmentally responsible actions. They would also be consistent
with the current trend of applying the "polluter pays" principle.


To-date, OECD countries at the Biosafety negotiations have refused to
accept the inclusion in the Biosafety Protocol of guiding principles
to allocate responsibility and compensation for the damaged caused by
GMOs.


Greenpeace is calling on the world's governments participating in
Biosafety Protocol meetings to produce a strong, internationally
binding agreement to protect biodiversity and human health from the
risks of releasing GMOs into the environment.


Greenpeace's demands for a Biosafety Protocol 


The Biosafety Protocol must contain strong, legally binding rules to
regulate the entire life cycle of GMOs and products containing GMOs.


The precautionary principle must be the general objective for the
Biosafety Protocol. 


There must be an unambiguous right for countries to reject imports,
exports and movement across their territories of GMOs.


All exporting countries should establish systems of segregation and
certification to ensure traceability, transparency and consumer
choice.


International rules establishing civil and state liability and
compensation need to be included in the Biosafety Protocol to deal
with harm caused by GMOs.


There should be a moratorium on international trade in GMOs and
GMO-products until the Biosafety Protocol enters into force.


Mika Railo
press officer
Greenpeace International
tel: +31-(0)20-5249 548
mobile: +31-(0)6- 535 04 721
fax: +31-20-5236 212
email: mika.railo@ams.greenpeace.org