In addition to the Convention on Biodiversity there has been made agreement on a protocol on genetic modified organisms (GMO’s). The Protocol is called the Cartagena protocol after the city in Colombia, where some of the last negotiations took place. The purpose of the Cartagena protocol is to ensure an appropriate level of protection on trading crossing frontiers, handling and use of living genetic modified organisms, which can have negative effects on preserving and sustainable use of the biological diversity. On 29. January 2000 the Parties of the Convention of Biodiversity agreed on an additional agreement to the Convention, which concerns genetic modified organisms. By GMO means a living organism, which holds a new combination of genetic material, created with the help of modern biotechnology. It is central for the Protocol, that the importing countries have the possibility to require an evaluation of risks and on the basis of that make decisions about import of GMO’s on a well informed foundation. Both Denmark and the EU have signed and ratified the Protocol. Like the Convention on Biodiversity, the Cartagena Protocol claims that the Parties work out a national Clearing House Mechanism – the Danish Biosafety Clearing House.
Biosafety
