Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs

Purpose – When genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were put into the international trade, people in many countries, especially European countries, became skeptical of them. A perception developed that they are harmful to human, animal, plant life and health, and destructive to the environment. It...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ansari, Abdul Haseeb, Nik Mahmod, Nik Ahmad Kamal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Group Publishing 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/1231/1/Biosafety_Protocol%2C_SPS_Agreement_and_export_and_import_control_of_LMOs-GMOs.pdf
_version_ 1796874750377590784
author Ansari, Abdul Haseeb
Nik Mahmod, Nik Ahmad Kamal
author_facet Ansari, Abdul Haseeb
Nik Mahmod, Nik Ahmad Kamal
author_sort Ansari, Abdul Haseeb
collection IIUM
description Purpose – When genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were put into the international trade, people in many countries, especially European countries, became skeptical of them. A perception developed that they are harmful to human, animal, plant life and health, and destructive to the environment. It is true that if there is no safe use of genetically modified living organisms (LMOs), other species might be affected causing loss to the environment. So as to ensure safe use of LMOs and GMOs, the Cartagena Protocol and the SPS Agreement were, respectively, made. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine both the legal instruments and to explore ways to make them co-existent, so that human, animal, plant life and health, and the environment are protected without affecting the international trade in LMOs and GMOs. Design/methodology/approach – This paper undertakes a critical examination of the issues surrounding GMOs and LMOs. Findings – The Cartagena Protocol and the SPS Agreement serve two different purposes. It is for this reason that some of their provisions are not co-extensive. But the conflict in them can be resolved. It is suggested that the provisions pertaining to the precautionary principle of the SPS Agreement should be brought in line with that of the Cartagena Protocol. It is also suggested that importing countries should conduct their own risk assessment preferably by following the CODEX procedure. In no case, risk assessment done by producing companies should be taken as conclusive. Practical implications – If suggestions offered by the paper are followed, the two will then protect the human, animal and plant health and the environment in the best possible way. Originality/value – For achieving its object, the paper presents a comparative assessment of the cases decided under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
first_indexed 2024-03-05T22:28:55Z
format Article
id oai:generic.eprints.org:1231
institution International Islamic University Malaysia
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-05T22:28:55Z
publishDate 2008
publisher Emerald Group Publishing
record_format dspace
spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:12312011-07-29T08:49:53Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/1231/ Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs Ansari, Abdul Haseeb Nik Mahmod, Nik Ahmad Kamal K Law (General) Purpose – When genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were put into the international trade, people in many countries, especially European countries, became skeptical of them. A perception developed that they are harmful to human, animal, plant life and health, and destructive to the environment. It is true that if there is no safe use of genetically modified living organisms (LMOs), other species might be affected causing loss to the environment. So as to ensure safe use of LMOs and GMOs, the Cartagena Protocol and the SPS Agreement were, respectively, made. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine both the legal instruments and to explore ways to make them co-existent, so that human, animal, plant life and health, and the environment are protected without affecting the international trade in LMOs and GMOs. Design/methodology/approach – This paper undertakes a critical examination of the issues surrounding GMOs and LMOs. Findings – The Cartagena Protocol and the SPS Agreement serve two different purposes. It is for this reason that some of their provisions are not co-extensive. But the conflict in them can be resolved. It is suggested that the provisions pertaining to the precautionary principle of the SPS Agreement should be brought in line with that of the Cartagena Protocol. It is also suggested that importing countries should conduct their own risk assessment preferably by following the CODEX procedure. In no case, risk assessment done by producing companies should be taken as conclusive. Practical implications – If suggestions offered by the paper are followed, the two will then protect the human, animal and plant health and the environment in the best possible way. Originality/value – For achieving its object, the paper presents a comparative assessment of the cases decided under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Emerald Group Publishing 2008 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/1231/1/Biosafety_Protocol%2C_SPS_Agreement_and_export_and_import_control_of_LMOs-GMOs.pdf Ansari, Abdul Haseeb and Nik Mahmod, Nik Ahmad Kamal (2008) Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs. Journal of International Trade Law and Policy, 7 (2). pp. 139-170. ISSN 1477-0024 http://first.emeraldinsight.com/journal.htm?PHPSESSID=ldi47ms40rvqan1db69ah79uv1&issn=1477-0024&volume=7&issue=2&ft=1&article=4190070203 10.1108/14770020810927336
spellingShingle K Law (General)
Ansari, Abdul Haseeb
Nik Mahmod, Nik Ahmad Kamal
Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs
title Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs
title_full Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs
title_fullStr Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs
title_full_unstemmed Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs
title_short Biosafety protocol, SPS agreement and export and import control of LMOs/GMOs
title_sort biosafety protocol sps agreement and export and import control of lmos gmos
topic K Law (General)
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/1231/1/Biosafety_Protocol%2C_SPS_Agreement_and_export_and_import_control_of_LMOs-GMOs.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT ansariabdulhaseeb biosafetyprotocolspsagreementandexportandimportcontroloflmosgmos
AT nikmahmodnikahmadkamal biosafetyprotocolspsagreementandexportandimportcontroloflmosgmos