 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (December 2015) |
| Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity | |
|---|---|
| Type | Environmental |
| Drafted | 29 January 2000 |
| Signed | 16 May 2000[1] |
| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada (originally scheduled for 1999 at Cartagena, Colombia) |
| Effective | 11 September 2003 |
| Signatories | 103 |
| Parties | 173[2] |
| Depositary | Secretary-General of the United Nations |
| Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish |
| Part of a series on |
| Genetic engineering |
|---|
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| Genetically modified organisms |
| History and regulation |
| Process |
| Applications |
| Controversies |
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement on biosafety as a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) effective since 2003. The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
The Biosafety Protocol makes clear that products from new technologies must be based on the precautionary principle and allow developing nations to balance public health against economic benefits. It will for example let countries ban imports of genetically modified organisms if they feel there is not enough scientific evidence that the product is safe and requires exporters to label shipments containing genetically altered commodities such as corn or cotton.
The required number of 50 instruments of ratification/accession/approval/acceptance by countries was reached in May 2003. In accordance with the provisions of its Article 37, the Protocol entered into force on 11 September 2003. As of July 2020, the Protocol had 173 parties, which includes 170 United Nations member states, the State of Palestine, Niue, and the European Union.[3][4]
- ^ First signed by Kenya
- ^ "UNTC". Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014..
- ^ "United Nations Treaty Collection". United Nations. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ Unit, Biosafety (13 November 2019). "The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety". The Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH). Retrieved 2 December 2019.