ABSTRACT
The precautionary principle was one of the chief elements of the European brief. The relationship of the protocol with other international agreements had been a contentious issue throughout the negotiations. The emphasis in the text on the mutual supportiveness between trade and environment agreements gives a very important message, which, like the wording of the precautionary principle, goes far beyond the context of the biosafety protocol. It indicates that the international community is prepared to look at trade, environment and health as integrated components of sustainable development. The core of the protocol is that it enables countries to take responsible decisions on imports of genetically modified organism through the advance informed agreement procedure and the alternative system created for commodities. The protocol should therefore be seen both as a regulatory framework and a basis for identifying and developing necessary resources.
