THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE PROJECT

ONLINE CONSULTATION

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Lack of expertise and paradox for developing count

From: Christian Lopez-Silva
Affiliation: Sheffield Institute of Biotechnological Law and Ethics
Remote Name: dyn070175.shef.ac.uk
Time: 15:42:23 +0100

Comments

The use of the PP requires considerable technical and legal expertise, not only in biosafety but also in how to integrate it with trade rules (see other comment). The fact that most developing countries lack this expertise, on the one hand points out at the need to call for appropriate capacity building and technology transfer mechanisms and projects. Until significant expertise is gathered the possibilities to use the PP and successfully overcome a challenge under trade rules seems low. On the other hand, the integration of biosafety and trade involves a paradox for developing countries. While the environmental dimension of biosafety, and of the PP, is the strongest aspect to be used to defend against trade challenges, the position of developing countries in trade forums has been consistent in perceiving environmental efforts as mere green protectionism from the North.