The Expert
meetings of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety were held in
Montreal in mid-March. The expert committee has been charged
with drafting standardized documentation to accompany
shipments of seed.The
following information is proposed to be required by the
originator of seed shipments with their documentation.
- Identification as a LMO with a
brief description of the organisms including category, name
relevant traits and characteristics such as event(s) of
transformation.
- Specification requirements for
safe handling
- Contact point for information upon
emergency
- Name and address of
exporter/importer
- Declaration of conformity
Domestically, the Canadian General
Standards Board are obtaining consensus on the labeling of GM
products. The CSTA position is labeling should be considered
on a volunteer basis.
The latest E.U. directive, which
effects all seed exports to Europe, includes the following
highlights:
- Thresholds for authorized GM seed
set at 0.3% for canola, 0.5% for corn and 0.7% for soybeans
- Previous cropping restrictions
- Isolation requirements
Approval of this directive may be
enforce by December 31, 2002.
