ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: The ministry of environment is at present eliciting the views of stakeholders, ministries, organizations and provincial departments concerned on biosafety guidelines, official sources at the ministry told Dawn.

The process of public scrutiny of the biosafety guidelines, though long, is justified in view of the fear about the implications of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) on human health and safety, they said.

It may be mentioned that the ministry of environment has come under criticism for not approving the biosafety guidelines though it had signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on June 4, 2001.

Most of the Saarc countries have already implemented these biosafety guidelines but Pakistan is yet to take a decision on it.

The ministry is of the view that since biosafety guidelines/rules cover the GMOs, including cash and food crops, there is a national concern over their impact on public health and ecological biodiversity of the country.

Since the biosafety guidelines/rules definitely will have long-term impacts on public health and environment, the ministry is taking its time before approving them, they said.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity is a protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which was adopted in January 2000, and entered into force on September 11, 2003.

The protocol is aimed to control trans-boundary movement of genetically-modified organisms, and the adverse effects their release into environment might have on ecosystems.

The protocol directly refers to the precautionary principles and establishes an advance informed agreement procedure for import of the LMOs. A biosafety-clearing house will be used by parties to exchange information, including on implementation issues.

The protocol was opened for signature at the United Nations Office in Nairobi by the US and regional economic integration organizations from May 15 to 26, 2001, and at the United Nations headquarters till June 4, 2001.

By that time, the protocol had received 103 signatures. Pakistan signed it on June 4, 2001.