The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (Biosafety Protocol) was agreed in Montreal in January 2000 and came into force on September 11, 2003 under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. This protocol is an international environmental agreement governing the movement between countries of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), also called living modified organisms (LMOs). In essence the Biosafety Protocol is an agreement designed to regulate the international trade, handling and use of any genetically engineered organism that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.
Belize and the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Belize signed to the Convention on Biological Diversity on June 13th 1992 and ratified it on December 30th 1993. With regards to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Belize ratified to this Protocol on February 12th 2004 and is a party by accession since May 12th 2004.