Regulation of biotechnology goods and issues for developing countries before the multilateral trading system
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Date
2006
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Abstract
Modern biotechnology has the potential to provide a major impectus to global food security and trade. Therefore, this field is of special concern and interest to developing countries. On the other hand, much of its implications remain unknown, especially the possible human and animal health impacts as well as the impacts on receiving environments. The concern is heightened in developing countries. Which are custodians of rich biodiversity. Further, international rules governing states' freedom to regulate biotechnology products in their territories are fraught with uncertainty, due to the lack of clarity regarding the applicable multilateral trading system (MTS) rules,and their relationship with the multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) dealing with biosafety. This paper sets out to provide a legal analysis of the prevailing uncertainty in the international rules and then taking the case of Sr Lanka submits that the prevailing impasse works particularly against developing countries. It concludes by highlighting some courses of action developing countries may take both at the national and international level to safeguard their biodiversity heritage.
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Biodiversity, Biotechnology, Developing countries, LMOs, Sri Lanka, WTO