Press Release: Better worldwide management of GMOs: the EU ratifies the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

The European Union ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 25 June 2002. The Protocol is designed to protect biological diversity, and, in turn, human health. It will establish an Advanced Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure which ensures countries are given the necessary information to make informed decisions on whether to import GMOs intended for introduction into the environment. The EU's action should be an incentive for other countries to ratify this Protocol, ensuring it comes into force quickly.