Using modern biotechnology, scientists are able to modify genetic material to improve an organism’s characteristics. While this technology can generate significant benefits, there are concerns that it may have adverse impacts on biodiversity and human health.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a supplement to the Convention on Biological Diversity, is an international agreement that aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of organisms that have been modified using modern biotechnology. The Protocol aims to guard against adverse effects on biological diversity, also taking also into account risks to human health. The Protocol, which entered into force in 2003, now has 170 signatories.
UN Environment works in partnership with the Global Environment Facility and the Convention on Biological Diversity to assist the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol to meet their commitments under the agreement. We do this by providing trainings, supporting biosafety capacity-building projects, and helping governments meet their reporting requirements. We also provide Parties with advice on negotiations and other activities and decisions related to the Protocol.
The objectives of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Initial Strategy on Biosafety were as follows:
- To assist in the development and implemenation of national biosafety frameworks through capacity building initiatives;
- To promote information sharing and collaboration, especially at the regional and sub-regional level;
- To promote collaboration with other organizations to assist capacity-building for the Protocol.
The activities proposed to implement these strategies are assisting:
- In developing national biosafety frameworks (NBF);
- In implementing the national biosafety frameworks (NBFs);
- In supporting countries to participate in the biosafety clearing-house (BCH);
- In preparation of national Biosafety Reports
- In coordinating with other organizations to provide biosafety-related assistance;
- In enhancing scientific and technical advice to GEF on biosafety issues.
Currently, UN Environment-GEF Biosafety is running four activities to implement the GEF strategy by assisting:
- Parties to develop a draft NBF;
- Parties to implement these NBFs;
- Parties to participate in and benefit from the BCH
- Parties to Prepare their Biosafety National Reports.
The UNEP-GEF Biosafety projects aim to implement the strategy by assisting countries to establish NBFs, promoting information sharing and collaboration, especially at the regional and subregional level, and promoting collaboration with other organizations to assist capacity-building for the Protocol. As of May 2012, 121 countries had completed their draft NBFs, 25 countries have completed implementing their NBFs, 40 countries hve started implementing their NBFs, and Parties are being assisted to set up and participate int eh BCH as an ongoing process.
