Decision making under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Abstract

Decision making under the CPB (or under domestic measures implementing the CPB) is based on risk assessment. In addition, parties may take into account, consistent with their international obligations, socio-economic considerations arising from the impact of LMOs on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, especially with regard to the value of biological diversity to indigenous and local communities. In the decision- making process the parties consult the public, in accordance with their respective laws and regulations, and make the results of such decisions available to the public. (Note that public awareness and participation in the decision-making process regarding GMOs have been addressed at the second meeting of the GMO Task Force under the UN-ECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters held in December 2000 in Vienna, Austria; http://www.unece.org/env/pp.)Decision making regarding LMOs will require future work and cooperation of parties in the areas of risk assessment, socio-economic considerations, public awareness and participation. The parties are encouraged to cooperate on the following issues: (1) LMOs or specific traits of LMOs that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and appropriate measures regarding the treatment of such LMOs or specific traits; (2) socio-economic impacts of LMOs, especially on indigenous and local communities; and (3) public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs. This encompasses access to information on LMOs that may be imported and in particular information about the public access to the BCH.