What does the Biosafety Protocol Not do?
• The Protocol does not address food safety issues. This is addressed by experts in other international fora. • The Protocol does not require segregation of bulk shipments of commodities that may contain living modified organisms. • It does not require consumer product labeling. • It does not subject shipments of bulk commodities to the Protocol’s AIA procedure. The Protocol will enter into force 90 days after it is ratified by the 50th state or regional economic integration unit. As of June 2002, 103 countries have signed but only 21 have ratified. When a country signs the Protocol, it signifies its general support for the principles in the Protocol and commits to take the steps necessary to consider and pursue its ratification. The Protocol only becomes legally binding when a country deposits an instrument of ratification with the United Nations.
Related Questions
- Do I have to contact the other "committees" (Radiation Safety Committee, BioSafety Committee, etc) on campus when my protocol involves work with hazardous materials?
- How does the UNs Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety address the potential risks associated with GMOs?
- Did Colombia sign the international biosafety protocol in 2000?
