The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Celebrating 22 years of Safety in the use of Living Organisms
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Credit: https://www.cbd.int/
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement which aims to ensure the safe handling , transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting in modern biotechnology.
The protocol creates an enabling environment on the environmentally sound application of biotechnology.
Twenty Two years ago ie September 11, 2003, the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety entered into force, having been signed in 2000.
This delivered an international regulatory framework to reconcile a rapidly growing global biotechnology industry for the protection of biodiversity.
The international regulatory framework was important to reconcile a rapidly growing global biodiversity industry for the protection of biodiversity- the foundation of all life on earth.
The Executive Secretary of the Convention of Biological Diversity Astrid Schomaker says:
“The parties have made important strides in the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol to safeguard bioidiversity and ensure the safe transfer, handling and use of Living and Modified Organisms (LMOs) resulting in modern biotechnology.”
Kenya is one of the 173 countries that have ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as a party to the protocol. This means that Kenya is committed to its implementation and has a duty to ensure effective governance on biosafety matters.
In Kenya, the Biosafety Act aligns with the principles of the Cartagena Protocol which ensure that that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are deployed safely with the aim of minimising risks.
Under the Cartagena Protocol, parties have also adopted the Nagoya supplementary protrocol on liability and redress, setting international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress for damaged biodiversity resulting from animals.
“Together the protocol and supplementary protocol advance collective work on synthetic biology and aspects pertaining to risk assessment and risk management of animals.This work also advances implementation of target 17 of Global Biodiversity Framework that addresses access to and transfer of technology including biotechnology while also recognising the importance of developing appropriate measures to enhance the safety of biotechnology applications,” notes Schomaker
“It is crucial that parties continue to weave the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol and supplementary Protocol into national planning and policy deployment. On this 22nd anniversary, I also encourage parties to the Convention that are not yet parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to consider accession or ratification. The endeavour to tap the potential of biotechnology safely, requires collective commitment and is worthy of attention at the highest political level.” She says.