Biosafety concerns in biological resource management

The development of transgenies and their release into both contained and open environments have raised concerns relating to their direct or indirect impacts on management of biological resources and human health. Following UNCED (1992), the non-legally binding International Technical Guidelines for Safety in Biotechnology were finalized in 1995 under the aegis of UNEP. In the meanwhile, the 2nd Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) decided to constitute an Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group to develop a ‘Protocol on Biosafety (BSWG)’. This paper highlights the basic elements consolidated by this Group as of now, and which are to be finally negotiated in the forthcoming meeting in late August, 1998.