Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy News Release
Montreal January 25^th 2000

Representatives of fifteen civil society groups from the six countries stalling the Biosafety Protocol spoke out today. They said the Protocol must protect biodiversity and human health, not promote trade.

These groups come from the countries of the so-called Miami Group whose governments are seeking to weaken the agreement currently under negotiation in Montreal. This protocol will set out rules governing international movement of genetically engineered organisms. (GEO: plants, animals, microbes) and their products.

"Our governments are obstructing a strong agreement," said Jorge Rulli of Argentina. "We're here to say that the people of our countries want an agreement that really protects people and the environment." Millions of citizens around the world have voiced concerns over GEOs and opposition to their release.

The Miami Group of governments (US, Canada, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Australia) want a protocol to promote trade interests and minimize environmental safeguards. They want to make the agreement subservient to World Trade Organizations rules, to exclude the precautionary principle and to exclude GEOs used as food and agricultural products, when exported.

These provisions would render the Biosafety Protocol useless in protecting the environment and preserving the diversity of life on this planet. "On Saturday, thousands of people in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver took to the streets in protest over GE foods and organisms. A national poll released last week showed that 94% of Canadians want to be able to refuse GEO imports over health or environmental concerns. The Canadian government has no mandate to put commerce before safety," said Nadine Bachand from Canada.

The Miami Group countries say human health and socio-economic impacts would not give countries the right to ban GE imports under this agreement. If they win, exporting nations and their corporations would have no liability under the Protocol for the damage that a product may cause in a receiving country.

"We must be safe rather than sorry with organisms that, once released, cannot be returned to the laboratory and go on reproducing themselves eternally." said Bob Phelps from Australia. "Our government must ensure that the precautionary principle is central to the Biosafety Protocol. They must not play roulette with the environment and public health. We are proud to be part of this group of citizen groups which have called for a REAL environmental Biosafety Protocol," he said.

For more information call:

Kristin Dawkins, Montreal cell: 514/993-2562 Minneapolis: 612/870-3410 Renske van Staveren, 612/870-3423

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