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• 17•02•2005 •

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CBD / SBSTTA 10
& ABSWG3

Bangkok, 7 - 18 February 2005

17 February 2005

3rd meeting of the Access and Benefit Sharing Working Group held in Bangkok 14 - 18 February 2005

ECO @ ABSWG3
CSO Newsletters

PDF file - use Acrobat Reader 14 Feb ECO #1:
New ABS Regime has to make a difference; Theft @ COP 7; The New Delhi declaration: Mega-diverse countries want legally binding anti-biopiracy regime; International Seed Treaty: opens access, limits benefits?

PDF file - use Acrobat Reader 15 Feb ECO #2:
Time wasting?; International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.

PDF file - use Acrobat Reader 16 Feb ECO #3:
Indigenous Peoples statement from WG II; Syngenta's “Daisy-cutter” Patent Bomb Busted; C onfessions of a bio-pirate ; Extract from ACCESO A LOS RECURSOS DE LA BIODIVERSIDAD Y PUEBLOS INDIGENAS

ENB daily coverage

Official Site: CBD / ABS WG3, Bangkok, Thailand 14 - 18 Feb 2005

 

10th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Technical and Technological Advice held in Bangkok 7 - 11 February 2005

ECO @ SBBSTA 10
CSO Newsletters

 

.

BREAKING NEWS

Fight to ban Terminator Technology

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Fight to ban Terminator Technology

Moratorium survives this round - but no decision on ban

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Thankfully, disaster was averted due to key interventions by the governments of Norway, Sweden, Austria, the European Community, Cuba, Peru and Liberia, on behalf of the African Group.

The good news is that these governments managed to delete the most offensive wording. The final text and recommendations reaffirm earlier decisions, amounting to a continuing, but fragile, de facto moratorium on Terminator.  The issue now bounces to another CBD advisory body (the Working Group on 8(j)) in March 2006.

The bad news is that decisions made in Bangkok will allow the issue of Terminator to be re-examined and re-studied interminably. In ETC Group's view, the CBD continues to dilly-dally and delay decisions on Terminator while the industry is moving full-speed ahead to bring sterile seeds to market. 

For more see etc.group News Release Suicide Seeds - Bombshell in Bangkok.

For report of outcome by ENB see Summary Report

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Dilly-Dally and Delay: SBSTTA to postpone decision to call for a ban?

Hope Shand – etc. group

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The Chair's text on Terminator/GURTs delivered to Working Group 1 on Thursday morning looked like a dream come true for the multinational seed industry. The text opened the door to field-testing and commercialization of genetic seed sterilization – including “capacity building, particularly for developing countries… for, the use of GURTs…” The disgraceful text explicitly mentioned the importance of observing “field experiments” on GURTs, and asked for the private sector's cooperation in researching GURTs. Given that SBSTTA10 is crawling with biotech industry representatives, the appalling text is not surprising.

Canada was only one member of the drafting group [which included Canada, EC, Peru, Tanzania, and the Philippines], but the Chair's text strongly reflects the Canadian government's pro-Terminator position as revealed earlier this week in a leaked document. During debate in Working Group 1, Peru objected to parts of the draft which included text that was not agreed upon by the Chair's drafting group.

Thankfully, disaster was averted in Working Group 1 by interventions from Norway, Sweden, Austria, EC, Cuba, Peru and Liberia, on behalf of the African Group.

The good news is that, after the very worst text was deleted, the draft reaffirms Decision V.5, section III [which includes the weak, de facto moratorium on Terminator]. Also, the Working Group on 8(j) will have an important opportunity to review the AHTEG Report on GURTs in March 2006 and make recommendations to COP8.

The bad news is that the text allows for the issue of Terminator to be re-examined and re-studied interminably. SBSTTA10 continues to dilly-dally and delay decisions on Terminator. In the meantime, the industry is moving full speed ahead to bring sterile seeds to farmers' fields.

(excerpted from ECO)

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Canadian Government to Unleash Terminator  Bombshell at UN Meeting

All-out push for commercialisation of Sterile Seed Technology

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The Bangkok meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity is receiving a report of its expert working group on Terminator technology - the sterile-seed technology that prevents seeds from being replanted on-farm. The report recommends a continuation of a moratorium on commercialisation and field trials until more studies have been completed. Canada is contesting this and seeking to break the consensus of this UN body. The debate is on Wednesday 9 February 2005.

More background by ITDG is in comments on the original paper Terminator developed by FAO at <http://www.ukabc.org/terminator1.doc> and interventions made at subsequent CBD meetings <http://www.ukabc.org/cop6.htm#e> & <http://www.ukabc.org/itdg/copv/news17052.html>.

Subsequently this reverted to the CBD Expert Working Group (AHTEG).

It is outrageous that a genetic technology that will spread sterility genes, rejected by so many countries, especially India which has banned the technology already, can be sanctioned by the very international body which has been set up to safeguard our genetic heritage.

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7 February 2005

Canadian Government to Unleash Terminator  Bombshell at UN Meeting

All-out push for commercialisation of Sterile Seed Technology.



A confidential document leaked today to ETC Group reveals that the Canadian Government, at a United Nations meeting in Bangkok (Feb 7-11), will attempt  to overturn an international moratorium on genetic seed sterilisation technology, (known  universally as Terminator).  Even worse,  the Canadian government has instructed its negotiators to 'block consensus' on any other option.

"Canada is about to launch a devastating  kick in the stomach to the world's most vulnerable farmers - the 1.4 billion people who depend on farm saved seed," said ETC Group Executive Director Pat Mooney speaking from Ottawa. "The Canadian government is doing the dirty work for the multinational gene giants and the US government.  Even Monsanto wasn't prepared to be this upfront and nasty. Canada is betraying Farmers? Rights and food sovereignty everywhere."

Terminator technology was  first developed by the US government and the seed industry to prevent farmers from re-planting saved seed and is considered the most controversial and immoral agricultural application of genetic engineering so far.  When first made public in 1998, ?suicide seeds? triggered an avalanche  of  public opposition,  forcing Monsanto to abandon the technology and prompting the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to impose a de facto moratorium on its further development.  According to the leaked instructions to Canadian negotiators at SBSTTA 10 (a scientific advisory body to the CBD) Canada will insist on Wednesday (9 Feb) that governments  accept  the field testing and commercialization  of Terminator  varieties (referred to as GURTS - Genetic Use Restriction Technologies). Canada will also attack an official UN report, prepared by an international  expert group, which is critical of the potential impacts of Terminator seeds on small farmers and Indigenous Peoples. In stark contrast to Canada?s position, the expert report recommends that governments seek prohibitions on the technology.

In Bangkok, civil society and Indigenous Peoples are calling on the Canadian government to abandon its endorsement of Terminator and to join with other governments to prohibit the technology once and for all.  Many African and Asian governments have called for
Terminator to be banned and the European Union has also been supportive of the existing moratorium.

"It is outrageous that Canada is backing an anti-farmer technology and shameful that it will 'block consensus' on any other outcome.  Governments from around the world must not accept this bullying tactic," says ETC Group's Hope Shand from the negotiations in
Bangkok. "If Canada blocks decision making on this issue, the moratorium will be in jeopardy and terminator seeds will be commercialized  ending up in the fields of small farmers."

The full leaked text of the Canadian government's instructions to its negotiators on Terminator/GURTS follows.

Hope Shand and Jim Thomas of ETC Group can be contacted  at SBSTTA negotiations in Bangkok on cell phone +44 (0) 7752 106806 or by email jim@etcgroup.org or hope@etcgroup.org

Pat Mooney (in Ottawa)  +1 613 241 2267 etc@etcgroup.org

Kathy Jo Wetter (USA) +1 919 9605223  kjo@etcgroup.org

The Head of the Canadian Delegation in Bangkok is Robert McLean, Environment
Canada, Robert.Mclean@ec.gc.ca   tel +1 (819) 9971303

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Note from Canada

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"Advice on the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTS);

Canada has major reservations regarding the recommendations in the AHTEG report.

Canada notes that the experts were unable to reach consensus and that while this is recognized in para. 15 of the report, this should have been made clear in the recommendation section of the report. Unfortunately, the report leaves the impression that consensus was achieved on all of the recommendations when this was clearly not case and in particular in terms of recommendation (b) which reads as follows, ?In view of the current lack of data, recommends that Parties and other Governments consider the development of regulatory frameworks not to approve GURTs for field-testing and commercial use.

Canada will suggest that the document clearly indicate in the Annex that there is no consensus on for the recommendations. Alternatively, the AHTEG report can be referred to as the 'Chairs' report'. Canada also believes that the AHTEG report contains scientific inaccuracies and a lack of balance in terms of reflecting both potential positive and negative impacts of this technology, and these issues should be addressed before the report is further distributed. We believe that it would be beneficial for Parties and other governments to submit comments to the Executive Secretary/CHM to represent national views to improve the accuracy of the document, and that these be made available to both the 8j working group and COP.

Additionally, Canada will propose that SBSTTA adopt a recommendation for decision at COP8 based on the revised wording of recommendation "b?  below and will propose this recommendation be incorporated for consideration at the 8j meeting:

NEW WORDING  for recommendation b) of AHTEG report

(b) In view of the current lack of data, recommend that Parties and other Governments consider the development of domestic regulatory frameworks TO ALLOW FOR THE EVALUATION OF NOVEL VARIETIES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH GURTS, FOR FIELD TESTING AND COMMERCIAL USE BASED ON APPROPRIATE SCIENCE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL RISK/SAFETY ASSESSMENTS.

In Canada's opinion the revised wording we are suggesting, strengthens the recommendation and provides for a strong scientific assessment of risk.

If we are unsuccessful in obtaining these additions (indication that recommendations in the AHTEG report were not based on consensus OR agreement to have national views submitted)
AND changes to recommendation 'B'--or any other outcome which clearly addresses our concern over a defacto moratorium on GURTS-- Canada is prepared to block consensus on this issue."

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Terminator outrage spreads

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1. The Terminator Seed - It's Back!!
Peace, Earth and Justice News
www.pej.org/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1812&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

2. No agreement about impact on farmers
www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=9652&start=1&control=225&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1

3. NZ Govt. Caught In Secret Deal on Terminator Genes Thursday, 10 February 2005, 11:25 pm Press Release: GE Free NZ
www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0502/S00036.htm

4. Guardian Newspaper, UK: John Vidal, February 09 2005. An international moratorium on the use of one of the world's most controversial GM food technologies may be broken today if the Canadian government gets seed sterilisation backed at a UN meeting. Canada backs terminator seeds

5. Miscellaneous media stories

Maori Party Appalled At Support Of Terminator Tech
Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - Feb 10, 2005
... taking place in Bangkok, New Zealand has supported the proposal from Canada to overturn the international moratorium on the use of ' Terminator Technology '. ...
NZ's Terminator Stance Appalling
Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - Feb 10, 2005
The Soil and Health Association is appalled that New Zealand is pushing to effectively reverse the ban on terminator technology at a UN meeting today. ...
NZ supports case-by-case assessment
Checkbiotech.org (press release), Switzerland - Feb 10, 2005
... "We regard this framework as an example for other countries, with concerns of GURTS , to establish an evidence-based system to assess impacts and manage risks ...
Experts focus on `terminator gene'
Bangkok Post, Thailand - Feb 8, 2005
... Terminator technology is the name given by activist groups, who warn its use might ... who prefer the term Genetic Use Restriction Technologies ( GURTs ), argued the ...
Govt urged to back down on terminator technology
Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - Feb 9, 2005
... Greens are horrified that New Zealand is one of only three countries pushing to change the rules governing the use of " terminator technology ", which prevents ...
''Stop Terminator!'' Government Urged
Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand - Feb 9, 2005
... GURTs ) that has caused international alarm because of the dire implications it has for food security and sustainable farming. Terminator technology is the ...
No agreement about impact on farmers
Bangkok Post, Thailand - Feb 9, 2005
... is delegates still need time to be able to list the kinds of impact, while some also need time for understanding the issues involving GURTs ,'' said Professor ...

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Action Alert

GM Watch

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Urgent action needed - new action alert on Terminator - email the NZ govt and Canadian delegation

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4890

 

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