The Protocol is intended to be a legally binding international environmental agreement under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and is being negotiated by all parties to the Convention. Developing countries seek to strengthen the common international framework for regulating the international trade of LMOs with a rule focused on protecting biodiversity. Developed countries share this goal. Canada is particularly interested in negotiating a Protocol that is compatible with the existing international framework under which many countries already regulate trade in many of these products. That is why Canada's position is to conclude a Protocol which protects biodiversity while at the same time permits the responsible trade of genetically modified plants, animals and micro-organisms.
Agricultural trade is extremely important to Canada's rural economy.
The Biosafety Protocol contains some provisions which govern how countries conduct the trade of certain LMOs. Canada and many other countries already regulate the domestic production and import of LMOs for the protection of the environment, human, plant and animal health. Most LMOs under the scope of the Protocol will be agricultural products. There are approved LMO varieties of canola, corn, soybeans and potatoes in production in Canada. The bulk handling and transportation systems in Canada do not easily allow for the segregation of LMO and non-LMO varieties.