The Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety sets out the first international
legal framework for the cross-border movement
of GMOs on the basis of the 'precautionary
principle'. Countries shipping GMOs for intentional
introduction into the environment will have
to give prior notification to the importing
country that is a Party to the Protocol under
the Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure.
The notification will have to provide information
necessary to enable the importing country to
make informed decisions. The Protocol contains
documentation requirements for shipments of
GMOs and establishes a Biosafety Clearing House
(BCH) to facilitate the exchange of information
on GMOs and to assist countries in the implementation
of the Protocol.
The Conference of the Parties established
a regionally balanced roster of experts nominated
by Governments, in fields relevant to risk
assessment and risk management related to
the Protocol, to provide advice and other
support, as appropriate and upon request,
to developing country Parties and Parties
with economies in transition, to conduct
risk assessment, make informed decisions,
develop national human resources and promote
institutional strengthening, associated with
the transboundary movements of Living modified
organisms (LMOs). The mandate of the Roster
of Experts shall be to provide advice and
other support, as appropriate and upon request,
to developing country Parties, in particular
the least developed and small island developing
States among them, and Parties with economies
in transition, to conduct risk assessment,
make informed decisions, develop national
human resources and promote institutional
strengthening, associated with the transboundary
movements of LMOs. Moreover, the Roster of
Experts should perform all functions assigned
to it by the Conference of the Parties serving
as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol
in the future, in particular in the fields
of Capacity-Building. All Governments are
encouraged to nominate experts and to encourage
regional balance in the roster.
As Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
South Africa is obliged to participate in capacity-building
in biosafety and biotechnology. An element
of the capacity building provisions of the
Protocol is that each Party nominates experts
to an expert forum called "Roster of Experts".
In this regard, DEAT, as the national focal
point for the Protocol calling on South African
experts to submit their details for consideration.
|
