US thwarts moratorium on terminator technology

by Gurdial Singh Nijar

Montreal, June 25 -- Scientific advisors to the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) failed to reach a consensus on a moratorium on two controversial plant technologies being developed by agro-chemical giants -- Monsanto of the US and Astrazenecca of the UK.

These technologies dubbed by critics respectively as "Terminator" and the "Verminator", genetically modify seeds to either become sterile after one season's planting or, produce specific beneficial traits only if sprayed with a proprietary chemical.

The CBD's scientific advisory body instead advised that any country may choose to take measures to establish a moratorium within the country on use of these technologies.

This weak compromise came after four days of intense debate.

Scientists from Africa and a large number of countries in Asia and Latin America had earlier supported Norway's proposal recommending a moratorium on this genetic use restriction technology (GURT) for commercial use and field testing.

The United States, as a non-Party to the Convention has only an observer status in these talks. Nevertheless, this has not stopped the US from dominating the debates. The US vehemently opposed any such proposal.

As a result, a compromise was desperately pursued.

Canada suggested that GURT's use not be approved by the Conference of Parties until further scientific assessment. Germany proposed that its use in the field by denied until the technology's viability was demonstrated.

The NGOs called for a moratorium on all GURTs as a minimum first step to a ban on these technologies.

"So long as the CBD fails to enact a ban, the explosion of patents on GURTS will continue as profit-oriented corporations extend their monopolies over the technology," warned Cecilia Oh of the Third World Network speaking on behalf of the NGO community.

"Food security and self-sufficiency in food production are meaningless if countries are at the mercy of transnationals for their timely supply of seeds and the proprietary chemicals that GURT seeds will require," she added.

The final text states that countries' imposing a moratorium must have regard to other international agreements. This rather obvious reference to the WTO was inserted at the insistence of the US. "It is clear that countries may not avoid their obligations under other international agreements," the US delegate said at the final plenary.

And in a clear repudiation of the precautionary principle which was agreed to by the scientific body, the US delegate's sole voice of opposition said: "We cannot associated with the implicit call for a moratorium because scientiftic research for the potential concerns or benefits has not been done."

Delegates from developing countries voiced disquiet that in the search for a consensus their concerns were ignored.

"This technology is purely to advance private commercial profits and not agricultural benefits," a Third World delegate said.

The advice of the scientific body will now be forwarded to the meeting of the Conference of Parties in Nairobi next year.

The issue of moratorium will be debated afresh at that meeting. (SUNS4465)

The above article first appeared in the South-North Development Monitor (SUNS).

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