BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Acceptance)

Mr Simon S. C. Tay asked the Minister for National Development if Singapore has accepted the Biosafety Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity or will study the Protocol with a view of doing so.

Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, the Biosafety Protocol, or Cartegena Protocol on biosafety, addresses the environmental concern over the potential negative impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on biological diversity; and the Protocol prescribes the procedures for the safe transfer, handling and use of such organisms.

The Protocol was only concluded on 28th January last month in Montreal after many years of negotiations. We will be studying the Protocol in detail in relation to its aim of protecting the environment and its implications on trade and related activities before we decide whether to accept the Protocol.

Mr Simon Tay: Sir, the Cartegena Treaty is very recent. I would urge the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to conduct a review. Will the Ministry consider involving both public officials as well as private sector experts, given the possible impacts on human safety?

Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee: Sir, the National Parks Board is calling for an urgent meeting on 6th March to discuss the implications of this Protocol and the different agencies are invited, including the experts from the National University of Singapore. The Protocol deals with very technical issues like LMOs, GMOs, things like that, which are over most of our heads, and if the public needs to be involved, we will certainly involve the public. But these are very, very technical issues.