ABSTRACT
The Cartagena Protocol process is testimony to the growing complexity of international environmental negotiations. An interesting aspect of the biosafety negotiations was the relationship between the incipient protocol and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The framework adopted for decisions on international movements of modified organisms has been set through a multilateral environmental agreement. Many of the developing countries concern procedural matters or practical steps, such as establishing the Biosafety Clearing-House in a phased way. The biosafety agenda has very largely been determined with the adoption of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The meeting of the Parties can take legally binding decisions as particular needs are identified, and they should help to reduce trade disputes in other fora. This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book.
