Inter-Linkages and Biosafety
-Seeking Coherence between Multilateral Regimes-
22 September 2000
As part of the United Nations University's (UNU) continuing series of seminars and workshops which provides delegates, interested UN staff, academics, and NGOs in New York and Geneva with up-date knowledge and understanding on issues related to UNU current research directions, a new series will be launched on UNU's work on Inter-Linkages: Synergies and Coordination between Multilateral Environmental Agreements and related Regimes.
The objective of this workshop is to first introduce the concept of Inter-Linkages and the UNU research and activities on the topic. The workshop will then turn to examine Biosafety, one of the case studies that UNU has taken up under its Inter-Linkages Initiative. It will give an update analysis and overview of the three regimes currently mandated on Biosafety: the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Convention on Biological Diversity Protocol on Biosafety, and the Codex Alimentarius. Particular attention will be given to some of the uncertainties between the regimes such as methods of fundamental jurisdictions between human health and the environment of each agreement, risk assessment procedure and activation of the precautionary principle, liability, equivalence, dispute settlement, notification and labeling.
The resource persons are well-known lecturers and experts on the Biosafety and trade issues, including Dr. Christopher Stone, J. Thomas McCarthy Trustee Professor of Law, Law School of the University of Southern California; Mr. Sam Johnston, Programme Officer B Financial Resources and Instruments, CBD Secretariat; Mr. Steve Charnovitz of Wilmer Cutler & Pickering, Washington, and former Director of Global and Environmental a Study (GETS), Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy; Dr. Jerry Velasquez, Programme Coordinator for the UNU/Global Environment Information Center; and Mr. W. Bradnee Chambers of the UNU/IAS Multilateralism and Sustainable Development Programme.
The workshop will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 22 September from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and resume from 2:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. in the AExecutive Dining@ Room of the 3rd floor in DC1. Members of the Permanent Missions, UN staff and the Media are invited to participate. In view of the limited seating, interested parties should register with the UNU Office in New York by fax: (212) 371-9454 or by email to unuona@igc.apc.org.
Programme
10:00-10:10 |
Introduction to the Seminar Jacques Fomerand, Director, UNU Office in North America (UNU/ONA) |
10:10-11:00 |
Module 1: Inter-linkages and the Bio-safety Issue Inter-linkages and Bio-safety: An Issue Management Approach, Jerry Velasquez, Coordinator GEIC, UNU Environment Programme and W. Bradnee Chambers, Coordinator UNU/IAS Multilateralism and Sustainable Development Programme |
11:00-11:15 |
COFFEE BREAK |
11-15-11:30 |
Discussion |
11:30-12:15
|
Module 2: Risk and the Precautionary Principle (1) Understanding the Core Principles of Risk Assessment and Precaution Christopher Stone, J. Thomas McCarthy Trustee Professor of Law, Law School, Universityof Southern California |
12:15-12:30 |
Discussion |
12:30-2:30 |
LUNCH BREAK |
2:30-3:15 |
Module 3: Bio-safety and the Relevant Global Regimes (1) The New Cartagena Biosafety Protocol Sam Johnston, Programme Officer - Financial Resources and Instruments, CBD Secretariat |
3:15-3:30 |
COFFEE BREAK |
3:30-4:15 |
(2) WTO SPS and TBT Agreement Steve Charnovitz, Wilmer Cutler & Pickering, Washington former Director Global and Environment a Study (GETS) Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy |
4:15-5:00 |
(3) Precaution and Risk as Employed in Codex
Alimentarius, WTO/SPS
TBT Agreements, and the
Biosafety Protocol
W. Bradnee Chambers, Coordinator UNU/IAS Multilateralism and Sustainable Development Programme |
5:00-5:30 |
Round Table Discussion |
5:30-5:45 |
Evaluation and Closing |
INTRODUCTION TO SERIES
As part of the United Nations University's (UNU) continuing series of seminars and workshops which provides delegates in New York and Geneva with up-date knowledge and understanding on issues related to UNU current research directions, a new series will be launched on UNU's work on Inter-linkages : Synergies and Coordination between Multilateral Environmental Agreements and related Regimes.
What is Inter-Linkages?
The global environment, in its entirety, is composed of complex, inter-related, ecosystems. To protect and preserve this complex environment requires a holistic approach that better integrates environmental problem solving at both the national, and the international institutional, level. The key to developing a more integrated approach, is the identification of the inherent synergies that exist between different aspects of the environment, and an exploration of the potential for more effective coordination between multilateral environmental agreements and related regimes.
In 1999 the UNU, in cooperation with other UN agencies and organizations held the International Conference on Inter-Linkages: Synergies and Coordination between MEAs. The Conference served to launch the UNU research and activities that will gradually culminate in the lead up to Rio+10. A key output of the UNU Inter-linkages Conference, was the Inter-Linkages Report which explored the concept of inter-linkages under five broad categories: scientific mechanisms; information systems; institutions; finance; and issue management. In the report a clear set of priorities are established and directions are offered as to how the inter-linkages concept may be implemented.
As a scientific and academic institution that serves as a research and capacity building organ of the UN, the UNU is ideally placed to facilitate a deeper understanding of the concept of inter-linkages through various research, cooperation and education initiatives. In particular, the UNU has a strong comparative advantage in regard to the exploration of the five areas identified in the Inter-linkages Report. To this end, the university has initiated a three-year inter-linkages programme consisting of yearly phases and culminating in a review in 2002. The activities planned are aimed at creating a broader and deeper understanding of each individual identified area. Activities are also intended to contribute to the identification and development of model implementation frameworks at the regional and national level, and also between issues that overlap and may cause conflict between the objectives of a number of MEAs.
The seminars will be open to UN accredited, NGOs, IGOs, observers and to UN diplomats working in issue areas related to inter-linkages. The initial seminar will be general by nature and give an overview of the topic of inter-linkages. Subsequent seminars will be more focused on specific inter-linked issues such as bio-safety, climate change and ozone depletion, and other areas where UNU is actively at work.
OBJECTIVES AND ORGANIZATION OF SEMINAR
The objective of this seminar is to first introduce the concept of Inter-linkages and the UNU research and activities on the topic. The seminar will then turn to examine Biosafety, one of the case studies that UNU has taken up under the Inter-linkages Initiative. The seminar will give an update analysis and overview of the three regimes currently mandated on Biosafety; the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Convention on Biological Diversity Protocol on Biosafety, and the Codex Alimentarius. The seminar will concentrate on addressing some of the uncertainties between the regimes such as methods of fundamental jurisdictions between human health and the environment of each agreement, risk assessment procedure and activation of the precautionary principle, liability, equivalence, dispute settlement, notification and labeling. Time will be given in the end to have a round table discussion on the issues raised during the seminar.
PARTICIPANTS
The seminar is designed primarily for members of permanent missions in New York dealing with Second Committee, as well as those specifically dealing with the World Trade Organization (WTO), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Codex Alimentarius issues. UNU reserves the right to make a selection among the candidates, if necessary. Priority will be given to those participants from developing countries. The selected candidates are requested to regard their participation as a firm commitment.
RESOURCE PERSONS
The seminar will be coordinated by UNU. The resource persons are: Dr. Jerry Velasquez, Programme Coordinator for the UNU/Global Environment Information Center, Mr. W. Bradnee Chambers, UNU/IAS Multilateralism and Sustainable Development Programme as well as several well known lectures and experts on the Biosafety and trade issues. Please see the draft agenda for further details.
DATES AND VENUE
The workshop will be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 22 September from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.. The conference room will be announced in due course.
REGISTRATION
Members of permanent missions who wish to participate in this workshop are requested to return the attached nomination form, signed by the Head of the Mission, to the following address: