Implications of International Agreements on Agricultural Biotechnology Products for Trading Nations

1
Implications of International Agreements on
Agricultural Biotechnology Products for Trading
Nations

• Jacek Plazinski
• Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer,
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
  - Australia

2
International organisations dealing with
biotechnology issuesInternational agreements
related to tradeOther IssuesAustralia - a
trading nationClosing remarks
3
International Organisations and Biotechnology

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
  Development
• (OECD)
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• The World Trade Organisation (WTO)
• The World Intellectual Property Organisation
  (WIPO)
• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
• The World Health Organisation (WHO)
• The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

4
Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation

• The Agricultural Technical Cooperation Experts
  Group ATCEG
• Current name the ATC Working Group ATCWG
• Seven sub-groups
• Sub-group on Research, Development and
  Extension of Agricultural
• Biotechnology
• Four workshops of the sub-group held since 1997
  
• The ATCEGs Biotechnology Report 2000
• The past performance, current state and
  recommendations for future action in
• agricultural biotechnology
• Recommendations of the Report included

5
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development - OECD

• The main OECD bodies with activities related to
  biotechnology
• OECD Council
• Ad Hoc Group on Food Safety (established by the
  Council)
• Committee for Agriculture (COAG)
• Seeds Scheme
• Co-operative Research Program
• Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy
  (CSTP)
• Working Party on Biotechnology
• Task Force on Biotechnology for Sustainable
  Industrial Development
• Working Group on Human-Health-Related
  Biotechnologies
• Task Force on Biological Resource Centres
• Biological Informatics Working Group
• Environment Policy Committee (EPOC)
• Working Group on Economic Aspects of Biodiversity

6
The World Intellectual Property Organisation -
WIPO

• The United Nations agency responsible for the
  promotion of intellectual property worldwide
• Working Group on Biotechnology
• nine different projects related to IP and
  biotechnology
• prepare recommendation paper for submission to
  WIPO
• establishment of a web site to provide
  information on work programs and disseminate
  related documents

7
The World Health Organisation - WHO

• Consultations on specific biosafety issues
  related to biotechnology
• Joint Expert Consultations with FAO to assess
  foods derived from biotechnology
• Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program
• Implementation through the Codex Alimentarius
  Commission

8
The Food and Agriculture Organisation - FAO

• Two Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings
• safety assessments and quality of food derived
  from biotechnology
• A Joint Meeting of the Intergovernmental Group on
  Grains and the Intergovernmental Group on Rice
• recommendations regarding information gathering
• coordination on biotechnology issues
• FAO Committee on Agriculture
• strategic planning on food security and
  biotechnology
• offered its expertise for the practical
  implementation of BP
• FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and
  Agriculture
• draft Code of Conduct on biotechnology
• Electronic forum on Biotechnology in Food and
  Agriculture
• an open forum to discuss and exchange views about
  issues concerning biotechnology for developing
  countries
• Other activities
• international standard setting through CAC and
  IPPC

9
The Biological Weapons Convention - BWC

• The Protocol to the Convention under negotiations
• /The BTWC Protocol Negotiations Ad Hoc Group/
• Technical co-operation identified in
• - Article VII of the Protocol
• Sharing information on environmental release
  of GMOs
• - Article XIV, section 4(a) to section 4(k)
• Scientific and technological exchange for
  peaceful purposes on..gene technologyand in
  other relevant fields of biosciences and
  biotechnology.

10
Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research - CGIAR

• The CGIAR is an association sponsored by FAO,
  UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank.
• provides strategic direction and financial
  support to 16 international agricultural
  research centres located throughout the world.
  
• many activities within research centres -
  biotechnology is being used as one of the tools
  to enhance food productivity for the benefit of
  the poor in developing countries.
• the centres carry out research on biosafety
  assessment

11
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology - ICGEB

• The Centre is an autonomous, intergovernmental
  organisation
• promotes the safe use of biotechnology world-wide
  with special regard to the needs of the
  developing countries.
• promotes advanced research and training in
  molecular biology and biotechnology
• annual workshops for scientists in biosafety and
  risk assessment for the environmental release of
  GMOs

12
Office International des Epizooties - OIE

• The World Organisation for Animal Health
• Main objectives
• to inform governments of the occurrence and
  course of animal diseases throughout the world,
  and of ways to control these diseases
• to establish international animal health
  standards for movement of animals and animal
  products
• to harmonise regulations for trade in animals and
  animal products among Member Countries.
• The OIE Standards Commission publishes the
  Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and
  Vaccines. Some of the tests and vaccines
  described are genetically engineered.
• OIE has had a working group on biotechnology
  since 1996.
• It has produced several technical publications on
  biotechnology as it relates to animal production
  and risk analysis.
• It has not approved international standards on
  biotechnology yet.

13
International Plant Protection Convention - IPPC

• The IPPC is the official standard setting body
  responsible for establishing the rules for the
  use of plant quarantine requirements under the
  WTO Sanitary/Phytosanitary Agreement
• The convention provides a framework and forum for
  international cooperation, harmonisation and
  technical exchange in collaboration with regional
  and national plant protection organisations
  (RPPOs and NPPOs)
• Open-Ended Working Group on Phytosanitary Aspect
  of GMOs and on Invasive Species
• development of a standard to address the plant
  pest risks of LMOs and products of modern
  biotechnology
• Meeting in September 2001 to discuss
  specifications for standards on LMOs and products
  of modern biotechnology
• Collaborative program between IPPC and CBD

14
Codex Alimentarius Commission - CAC

• The Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program is
  implemented through the Codex Alimentarius
  Commission.
• The Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on
  Foods Derived from Biotechnology established in
  June 1999.
• The Codex Committee on Food Labelling
• the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Labelling of
  Foods obtained through Biotechnology
• Committee on General Principles
• Committee on Veterinary Drugs
• Committee on Food Additives

15
United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development - UNCTAD

• Serves as Secretariat for the UN Commission on
  Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)
• CSTD current program on biotechnology
• Panel Meetings
• Collaboration with UNEP on biotechnology and
  biodiversity
• Provides policy advice and capacity building at
  the request of governments
• BIOTRADE initiative

16
United Nations Environment Program - UNEP

• Organises international consultations on a safe
  use of biotechnology
• Biodiversity Program
• In 1995 adopted the International Technical
  Guidelines for Safety in Biotechnology

17
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe -
UNECE

• A regional commission of the United Nations
• Encourages greater economic cooperation among its
  Member States.
• Addresses biotechnology through its activities

18
United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation - UNIDO

• BINAS - the Biosafety Information Network and
  Advisory Service
• A Code of Conduct for the Release of Organisms
  into the Environment
• Training in biotechnology safety
• Genetically Modified Organisms A Guide to
  Biosafety

19
The World Bank

• The Work Banks Biotechnology Task Force
• A background paper Agricultural Biotechnology
  and Rural Development, Issues and Options for the
  World Bank
• Workshops on agricultural biotechnology

20
The Convention on Biological Diversity - CBD

• Biosafety Protocol - a new multilateral
  environmental agreement under the CBD
• The Protocol establishes an international regime
  to cover the environmental impact of trade in
  living genetically modified organisms (LMOs)
• An Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure for
  imports
• The Protocol applies to living modified organisms
  and agricultural commodities
• It does not apply to processed foods derived from
  LMOs
• Introduces a prior notification and consent
  regime for trade in LMOs
• The Protocol recognises the right of countries to
  regulate the import of LMOs that pose a risk to
  biodiversity
• Precautionary approach
• Clearing House mechanism for sharing information
• The Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena
  Protocol (ICCP)

21
The World Trade Organisation - WTO

• The WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
  (TBT Agreement)
• The WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary
  and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)
• The WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
  Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement)
• No specific biotechnology-related activities at
  the present time
• WTO Working Group on Biotechnology - a proposal

22
Other Trade-Related Issues

• Community attitudes
• Monopolistic power in the marketplace
• Research mainly in the private sector
• Patent ownerships
• Ethical issues
• Biosafety
• Labelling

23
Australia - a trading nation

• Active participation in a number of
  international organisations
• Legal obligations

24
Concluding Remarks

• Risk evaluations
• Labelling of GM Foods and agricultural
  commodities
• Coordinated approach to biosecurity
• A science-based, transparent biosafety
  regulations
• that reflect international agreements
• Effective communication with the public
• Broad participation in the decision making
  process