Strasbourg, France
September 24, 2002

Today the European Parliament signalled support for EU plant biotechnology research when voting on a new proposed Regulation to implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety* (Sjöstedt report). The Protocol aims to set in place international rules for the "transboundary movement" (movement across international borders) of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The Environment Committee had sought to impose rules additional to those detailed in the International Protocol, and especially for the export of research materials out of Europe. "Such rules would have curtailed the ability of European
researchers to work co-operatively with third countries on projects of urgent need, in particular in the
developing world and would have accelerated the trend for life science research to move outside of the EU," says Simon Barber, Director of the Plant Biotechnology Unit at EuropaBio - the European Association of Bioindustries.

A major policy thrust at the recent Johannesburg World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) called on the formation of co-operative public/private research projects, such as the project on Vitamin A rice between EU and third country institutions. The Parliament voted to ensure that such co-operative research between European public and private institutions and researchers in lesser developed countries can continue.

EuropaBio urges the Commission, the Council and the Parliament to agree a Regulation that is in keeping with the objectives of the Biosafety Protocol and which is supportive of European public and private research in modern biotechnology.

EuropaBio has almost 40 corporate members operating worldwide and 19 national biotechnology associations representing some 1200 SMEs involved in research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products. EuropaBio, the voice of European bioindustries, aims to be a promoting force for biotechnology and to present its proposals to industry, politicians, regulators, NGOs, and the public at large.

*The Cartegena Biosafety Protocol is a treaty under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. It establishes one set of basic international rules for dealing with GMOs. The Protocol will ensure countries, exporters and importers have the necessary information to make informed choices about GMOs by requiring exporters to provide advance notice of any shipment that may contain a GMO and entitles importing countries to reject such shipments if they believe the material has the potential to negatively affect the biodiversity of the country. It also requires the parties to the Protocol to develop new regulations to implement the Protocol and it forsees funding to help countries to put in place scientific and regulatory infrastructures to handle GMOs. The protocol needs to be ratified by at least 50 countries worldwide who agree to be legally bound by the
terms of the treaty.