1st Edition

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Reconciling Trade in Biotechnology with Environment and Development

Edited By Christoph Bail, Robert Falkner, Helen Marquard Copyright 2002

    Modern biotechnology - the controversial manipulation of genes in living organisms - has far-reaching implications for agriculture, human health, trade and the environment. Against the odds, an international treaty governing biosafety and trade in biotechnology was adopted in 2000. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of the Convention on Biological Diversity deals with one of the most important and challenging issues thrown up by developments in biotechnology. This volume is a comprehensive review of the protocol and the process that led to its adoption. It includes contributions from many of the key players involved and analyses the commercial and political interests at stake, the operations and implications of the protocol, and prospects for the future.

    Foreword by Klaus Topfer * Part I: Background: the Road to the Cartegena Protocol and Beyond * Part II: The Making of the Protocol: Actors' Perspective on the Negotiations - Miami Group * Like-Minded Group * European Union * Compromise Group * Central and Eastern Europe * Environment Ministers: Political Perspectives on the Final Negotiations * Environmental NGOs * Industry * Part III: Key Elements of the Protocol * Part IV: Implications for Environment, Trade and Development: an Assessment * Part V: Appendices * Glossary * Index

    Biography

    Christoph Bail is Head of the Environment and Development Unit in the European Commission's Environment Directorate-General. Robert Falkner is Lecturer in International relations at the Univerity of Essex and Associate Fellow of the Sustainable Development Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA). Helen Marquard is Head of the Europe Environment Division in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    'An excellent book and a highly entertaining and informative publication.' European Environmental Law Review