International Biotechnology Law and Policy : Year in Review (2006)

Yearly review of highlights of international biotechnology law and policy developments, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biosafety, and GM foods and WTO trade regulation. The year 2006 was not a revolutionary year for the global regulation of agricultural biotechnology and biosafety. Nonetheless, important developments did occur, such as the long-awaited World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel ruling in the EC – Biotech Products case brought by the United States (US), Canada, and Argentina. Other noteworthy progress included several breakthroughs (albeit in the inescapable form of political compromises) in protracted and contentious negotiations in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (BSP). However, in other areas, the period under review was used for the preparation of negotiations on difficult dossiers in future years