Biosafety Protocol Agreed

Friends of the Earth has welcomed new international rules for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which have been agreed in Montreal, Canada. After six years of government negotiations the "Cartagena" Protocol will regulate the international trade in genetically modified (GM) crops and foods.

The new Protocol:

clearly allows countries to follow the precautionary principle.
permits countries to ban GM crops if they have sufficient concerns over their safety.
for the first time identifies GM foods and crops as fundamentally different to conventionally bred.

The Protocol was accepted despite fierce objections from the so-called Miami Group of countries (United Stated, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) partly thanks to the campaigns of consumers and environment groups like Friends of the Earth International.