Delegates ready bio-safety food talks in Montreal
Date: 24-Jan-00
Country: CANADA
The five-day conference that begins at 10 a.m. (1500 GMT) is being held
under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity. If the negotiations are successful, they will produce an
agreement among the world's main trading blocs on rules governing the
international movement of genetically modified organisms.
One of the key uses of such organisms is in crops such as grains, corn
and soybeans that have been altered to allow greater productivity or be
more resistant to pests and disease.
"We're had working committees busy all weekend preparing for tomorrow's
meeting," a conference organiser told Reuters.
"The programme will basically follow on where everyone left off last
year," the Canadian official said, referring to an earlier meeting held
in Columbia last February at which delegates failed to reach an
agreement.
Environmental ministers are expected to participate in the final two
days of the talks, which have been stalled over a number of key issues.
The United States, which has wide differences with the European Union on
the issue of regulating trade in genetically modified food, has appealed
for flexibility in the Montreal negotiations.
"The prospects for an agreement are good if countries are willing to
address each other's concerns and be flexible," said David Sandalow,
U.S. assistant secretary of state for oceans, environment and science,
in a recent interview.
Canada has said it is hoping for progress, if only that the countries
had time to further study the proposals since last year's gathering in
Colombia.
At those talks the U.S.-led "Miami Group", which includes Canada,
Argentina, Uruguay, Australia and Chile, refused to accept EU demands
for the labeling of genetically modified bulk commodities.
The EU demanded precise labeling for genetically modified crops and
foods derived from them. It has been slower at approving new genetically
modified products than the United States because of broad consumer
concerns about food safety.
European countries also insist that the protocol should allow it to keep
products off its market if it believes they present a health risk.
The Miami Group wants to include a savings clause to ensure the
Biosafety Protocol does not override other international treaties, such
as those under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). WTO rules prevent
countries from blocking food imports unless there are compelling
scientific reasons.
Outside the talks, green groups opposed to the growing use of
genetically modified organisms in food will try to make their voices
heard during daily vigils outside the meeting place.
Although organisers have said they do not fear a repeat of protests in
Seattle at the WTO meeting last month where riots broke out as
demonstrators prevented delegates from reaching their meetings, groups
such as Greenpeace say it is important their message is delivered.
About 300 people peacefully marched to the venue of the talks, at the
U.N.-affiliated International Civil Aviation Organisation, on Saturday
before returning to a local university for a conference on genetic
engineering and trade hosted by Greenpeace and other environmental and
public interest groups.
Protesters said they fear that the international trade considerations
could weaken the proposed protocol which is aimed at protecting the
world's plants and animals from potentially adverse effects of
genetically modified organisms.
Scientists supporting biotechnology and its applications to food
production have also been speaking out on their position on the issue.