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GM MAIZE UNDER SCRUTINY IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
GM MAIZE UNDER SCRUTINY IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA In an effort to respond to consumer concerns while not abandoning biotechnology, the UK government on 9 March approved the commercial growing of genetically modified (GM) corn, but placed stringent conditions on its release. The decision attracted criticism from both the supporters and opponents of biotechnology,…
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TRIPS COUNCIL: RENEWED CALLS FOR MOVING AHEAD ON BIODIVERSITY
TRIPS COUNCIL: RENEWED CALLS FOR MOVING AHEAD ON BIODIVERSITY At the 8 March meeting of the WTO Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), a group of developing countries renewed their efforts to speed up discussions on resolving potential conflicts between the TRIPs Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by putting…
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TO WHALE OR NOT TO WHALE - NEW ARGUMENTS?
TO WHALE OR NOT TO WHALE - NEW ARGUMENTS? An international coalition of animal welfare organisations has released a new report on the animal welfare implications of modern whaling activities, attempting to inject the aspect of cruelty into a discussion, which has so far mainly concentrated on scientific arguments. Concurrently the German parliament hosted…
- In Brief
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Kyoto Protocol in Force in the EU
On 11 March, a decision by the European Parliament entered into force, making the Kyoto Protocol legally binding in the EU. The decision spells out how greenhouse gas emissions are monitored and reported, and was the final piece of legislation needed to operationalise all aspects of the Kyoto Protocol in the EU. EU Environment Commissioner…
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South Africa Debates Future Biodiversity Strategy
On 17 March South Africa held its first formal workshop to discuss its future national biodiversity strategy. Developing a national strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and equitable sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources forms part of South Africa’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The participatory process to develop…
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Agriculture and Forestry Threaten Bird Population
The “State of the World’s Birds 2004” report released by BirdLife International concludes that agricultural expansion and unsustainable forestry are the biggest threat to bird diversity. According to BirdLife International, one in eight of the world’s birds faces extinction — a total of 1,211 species. Several reasons for the extinction crisis are cited by the…
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Ivory Trade Again Under Discussion at CITES
At the initiative of Kenya, the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), convening in Geneva from 15-19 March, is discussing whether to revert a decision from 2002 allowing South Africa, Namibia and Botswana to make one-off sales of their ivory stock piles (see BRIDGES…
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Coffee Producers Complain About German Standards at WTO
A range of coffee producing developing countries raised their dissatisfaction with German health standards for ocratoxin A (a microtoxin conaminant) in soluble and roasted coffee at the most recent meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), held from 17-18 March. Colombia, Papua New Guinea, Nicaragua, Brazil, Cuba, India, Guatemala, Mexico, Ecuador,…
- Events
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Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Coming up in the next four weeks 19 March,…
- Resources
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Resources
If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy or review by the BRIDGES staff to Marianne Jacobsen. ICTSD TRADE & ENVIRONMENT WEB PORTAL. On 15 March, ICTSD launched trade-environment.org, a web portal at the crossroads of international trade and the environment.…