The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), provides for the negotiation of a protocol on the safe transfer, handling and use of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) developed by means of biotechnology. The main negotiating partners that emerged from the sixth round of negotiations in Cartagena (1999), were: the Like-Minded Group(LMG) (which is the G77/China excluding Argentina, Uruguay and Chile), the Miami Group (MG)(USA, Canada, Australia, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay), European Union(EU), Compromise Group(CG)(Japan, Mexico, Norway, Republic of Korea and Switzerland) and the Central and Eastern European Group(CEE). South Africa is part of the LMG, and has participated in the development of this Protocol since the second round of negotiations in 1996.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS

Environmental Affairs and Tourism
NDAL
Water Affairs and Forestry
Trade and Industry
Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
Health

GENERAL COMMENTS

Throughout South Africa has favoured a balanced protocol which will accord protection to developing countries against harmful exports of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs), but not unduly restrict biotechnology developments and trade in LMOs. South Africa has not yet signed the Cartagena Protocol. The Protocol was adopted on 28 January 2000 in Montreal, Canada.