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Cartagena Protocol

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The Cartagena protocol or the Cartagena protocol on biosafety is an international protocol mutually agreed upon by many nations to ensure the safe use, handling, and transfer of LMOs (Living Modified Organisms). As in many cases, it has been observed that the LMOs produced by genetic engineering results in a threat to the biodiversity on this planet. Biotechnology has a great potential to enhance human well-being but on the other hand, it also has some harmful effects impacts on human health and other living organisms present on the earth. Thus the Cartagena Protocol was first introduced in Montreal, Canada on February 29th, 2000 with an aim to ensure safe handling, use, and transportation of LMOs.

What was the Major Objective Behind the Cartagena Protocol?

The major objective of this protocol is to ensure the safe handling and transportation of LMOs, developed from genetic engineering or modern biotechnology and can have an adverse effect on human health and other specifics living on the earth. This protocol aims to create a balanced environment under which LMOs produced from modern biotechnology benefit without having any adverse effect on public health. Also, it allows a nation to ban the import of LMOs in case they feel it has not undergone enough scientific research or can harm the biodiversity of the nation.

Biosafety protocol and Cartagena Protocol:

The biosafety protocol is an initiative of the United Nations under which more than 135 nations come together and the accepted the biosafety protocol under which the Cartagena protocol was introduced. The biosafety protocol was first introduced at Columbia in February 1999, and to honour it was named Cartagena (a city in Columbia) Protocol. This protocol assists underdeveloped and developing countries in the safe handling of LMOs and the use of biotechnology.

What is AIA (Advanced Informed Agreement)?

A new procedure was introduced in the biosafety protocol i.e. AIA or the Advanced Informed Agreement under this procedure, the transboundary movement of LMOs is restricted. If any nation wants to import or export any LMOs then the exporting nation must provide details about the risk and safety of the LMOs to the importing nation. The importer nation must notify the exporter nation about whether they can accept the specific LMOs or not. Also, the importing nation can deny the request to import of LMOs if they find it difficult to handle. Every modified organism like seeds for plantation, fish, or any microorganism comes under Advanced Informed Agreement.

What is a Biosafety Clearing-House?

To exchange the information, technology, scientific data, and legal information on the LMOs the convention launched a website called the Biosafety clearing house (BCH). The website is handled by the secretary of the convention and he assists all the member parties in the implementation of the protocol by BCH. 

Much information is being shared through BCH like any amendment in the existing rules and regulations, legal notices, risk assessment summaries, etc. 

Cartagena Protocol and India:

Ratified in 2003, India is a member country of the Cartagena protocol. In India, the Ministry of Environment, forest, and climate change (MOEF&CC) have been appointed as the regulatory authority which is responsible for the implementation of the Cartagena protocol in India. 

India is one of the oldest members of the Cartagena protocol and has its systemic process for the safe handling of LMOs. Since 1989 India has adopted a science-based regulatory system for the assessment of the risk in the handling and transportation of LMOs. The LMOs (Living Modified Organisms) are also referred to as GEO (Genetically Engineered Organisms) or GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) in India. Also, India has developed its guidelines for the risk assessment and safety of LMO handling.
 


Last Updated : 22 Dec, 2022
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