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Genetically Modified Organisms

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Manipulation/ alteration of DNA by transferring genes from one organism to another ... 75% engineered for herbicide tolerance, also insect resistance, flavour, ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Genetically Modified Organisms


1
Lecture 10
  • Genetically Modified Organisms

2
What is GM technology?
  • Manipulation/ alteration of DNA by transferring
    genes from one organism to another
  • Focus so far on crops, cotton and tobacco
  • 75 engineered for herbicide tolerance, also
    insect resistance, flavour, storability,
    appearance.

3
Benefits/ Opportunities
  • Design crops/ livestock with the right genes
  • Add vitamins etc.
  • Feed all!

4
Costs/ Concerns
  • Uncertainties
  • Monopolies
  • Consequences for human health environment?
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Adding allergens antibiotic markers
  • Ethical questions
  • Wrong approach!

5
An emerging issue
  • Not until mid-1990s
  • New awareness coincided with general loss of
    confidence in regulatory systems
  • Different responses in the US and the EU
  • Differences between North and South

6
The EU Policy
  • Started early 1990s
  • Objective protect citizens environment while
    simultaneously creating unified biotech market
  • Directives 90/220/EEC and 2001/18/EC on
    deliberate release of GMOs
  • Policy based on step-by-step approval and
    case-by-case assessment
  • Principles on risk assessment, monitoring, access
    to info, labelling, traceability
  • Also 10-year reviews, consultations with
    Scientific Committee and European Parliament

7
Furthermore
  • EU distinguishes between GMOs intended for
    deliberate release into environment and GMOs
    intended for use as foods/ feeds/ processing.
  • UN Biosafety Clearing House involved
  • However, Oct 2005 Court of First Instance
    rejected GMO Free Zone in Upper Austria

8
US Policy
  • Focus is on final end product, not on process
  • No difference between biotech and conventional
    food, therefore no new regulatory framework
  • No labelling (exception allergies), considered
    misleading

9
International Level
  • Until recently relying on old regimes
  • UNEP Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety adopted Jan
    2000, regulates trade in GMOs, compromise,
    effectively legitimising trade, main tool
    advanced informed agreement, disagreement over
    distinction of GM types, also precautionary
    principle relationship with WTO.
  • Miami Group versus Like Minded Group
  • Global Industry Coalition, chaired by BioteCanada

10
In comparison Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs)
  • Covers pesticides chemicals that are toxic,
    bioaccumulative, travel long distances
  • Do not interfere with DNA but can be devastating
  • Regime building smoother, more cooperation
    Convention tougher, more regulatory.
  • Large MNCs from the North no longer interested in
    POPs
  • Again, split between EU and US, North and South

11
Developing Countries
  • Hopes and promises but also concerns
  • They are not in control
  • They do not have an adequate regulatory system
  • Not enough information
  • Yet another form of imperialism/ post-colonialism
  • Destroying diversity

12
The WTO Dispute
  • Formal complaint by USA, Canada, Argentina
  • Two Issues suspension and failure to approve
    applications for GM products tolerating member
    states bans of previously approved GM products
    (Aus, F, Ger, Gr, I, Lux)
  • Balancing act between economic and normative
    actors
  • June 2005 Commission tried to meet US half way
    by proposing lift of national bans. However,
    blocking minority in Council of Ministers
  • Latest Panel decision deferred until next year

13
Conclusions
  • GMOs highlight the cross-boundary and global
    dimensions of environmental politics
  • GMOs contributed towards the deep divisions
    between US and EU, North and South
  • There are scientific uncertainties and different
    interpretations of the issue
  • The influence of non-state actors is significant
  • Many features are typical for environmental
    politics, others are unique
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