International Trade in Biotechnology Products and Multilateral Legal Frameworks

Biotechnology is a revolutionary technology. It offers humanity the power to change the characteristics of living organisms by transferring the genetic information from one organism, across species boundaries, into another organism. These solutions continue the tradition of selection and improvement of cultivated crops and livestock developed over the centuries. However, biotechnology identifies desirable traits more quickly and accurately than conventional plant and livestock breeding and allows gene transfers impossible with traditional breeding. The use of biotechnology in sectors such as agriculture and medicine has produced a growing number of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived from them. Changing the characteristics of organisms may provide benefits to society, including new drugs and enhanced plant varieties and food. However, biotechnology does not come without risks and uncertainty. Its potential effects on the environment, human health and food security are being actively debated at the national and international levels. Countries’ positions depend ...