Abstract
Given that there is a certain level of environmental uncertainty associated with the products of biotechnology (BT) in addition to the possibilities of negative impacts arising from trans‐boundary movements of genetically modified organisms (GMO), the urgency for an international agreement to regulate trade in GMOs was recognized. The Biosafety Protocol is such an international environmental agreement. This protocol is charged with designing a comprehensive international regulatory approach to the protection of biodiversity and to establish rules to manage the environmental risks of trans‐boundary movements of GMOs. Corresponding author. Email: Frank G. Muller@Sympatico.ca The Protocol has major implications both for the technology addressed in the Protocol and for international trade. It is the first major international agreement to use the “precautionary principle” explicitly to allow the restriction of trade in products because they were produced using a specific technology, namely BT. This paper intends to provide a critical socio‐economic assessment of the central issues addressed in the Protocol with regards to agrobiotechnology and biodiversity.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
