Friends of the Earth
Action Briefing Feb 2000/Mar 2000
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Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing Feb 2000/Mar 2000 |
International negotiations on GM trade were held under the auspices of the United Nations, in Montreal between 24th and 28th January 2000. Proposed was a UN Bio-safety Protocol which would allow governments to refuse to import GM foods and seeds. The Bio-safety Protocol follows from the Convention on Biological Diversity, instituted at the Rio 'Earth Summit' in 1992, the objectives of which are "the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources". Crucially, the US refused to sign up at Rio.
From the outset, it was felt that the talks were likely to be scuppered by the US's insistence that any agreement under a proposed UN Bio-safety Protocol would be subordinate to a future WTO deal - i.e. free trade would be more important than risks to health or the environment. Similar talks took place last year when the US and five other grain exporting countries, called the Miami group, blocked agreement by 160 nations on controls which would have allowed governments to refuse to import GM foods and seeds.
Immediately prior to the opening of the talks came a revelation that EU officials, in direct contravention of the wishes of ministers of member states, were trying to broker a secret deal in which EU countries would be prevented from blocking imports of GM foods in return for the US dropping its campaign to cut subsidies by the EU to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy - which itself has caused much environmental damage by promoting intensive agriculture - thereby landing a double blow against campaigners such as FOE.
However, once talks got underway they were surprisingly productive. After protracted negotiations, the 133 nations agreed a new bio-safety protocol giving them rights, for the first time, to restrict imports of GM crops without breaking international trade rules. The deal covers food, seeds, animal feeds and medicine; allows countries to restrict imports of GM products if they fear that these products may harm human health or get into the environment and damage it; and requires general labelling for GM products while further requiring countries to begin negotiations on more specific labelling requirements to take effect no later than two years after the protocol enters into force.
On the face of it, this is an important victory for FOE and the many countries, groups and individuals concerned to put people and the environment ahead of trade liberalisation. It remains to be seen what effect the bio-safety protocol will have in practice, but it is certainly an encouraging development and yet another sign that if we keep up the pressure and work with the many others joining campaigns around the world we can successfully fight the forces of neo-liberal capitalism and make a real difference in a rapidly changing world.