Genetic modified seeds are widely practiced throughout the world. Ukraine ratified the GMO amendment to the Aarhus Convention Climate and Environment
Ukraine has ratified the so-called GMO Amendment to the Convention on the Environment (Aarhus Convention). Now the amendment will come into force. It was adopted 20 years ago, but for its ratification it was required that at least 33 parties join it.
About the Convention and the GMO Amendment
All those who have already ratified the amendment on public participation in decision-making concerning the release into the environment of genetically modified organisms, as well as the placing of GM products on the market, and who will accede to it in the future, must introduce into their legal framework effective mechanisms to ensure transparency and public participation in the relevant processes.
The Aarhus Convention, the full name of which is the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, was adopted by 38 countries in the city of Aarhus in Denmark in June 1998 and entered into force several years later. To date, it has been ratified by 47 parties.
“Ukraine’s ratification of the GMO amendment to the Aarhus Convention, which brings it into force, is an important milestone for the role of the public in decision-making on this important topic,” said Tatyana Molchan, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
“This decision demonstrates the country’s commitment to transparency and inclusive and effective decision-making on this complex issue. I call on all parties to the Aarhus Convention to ratify the amendment,” she added.
While the Aarhus Convention already establishes as law for its 47 parties the public’s right to information, participation and justice in environmental matters, the GMO amendment provides further clarification and specific provisions on this topic.
Protecting against the risks associated with the use of GMOs
The cultivation of genetically modified seeds is spreading across the world, with more and more crop types being modified in addition to the original three – corn, soybeans and cotton. Globally, the area under GM crops has increased by an estimated 121-fold since 1996 and now accounts for about 13 percent of the total agricultural area.
The consumption of GMOs poses potential risks to the environment and human health. It is therefore essential to ensure that the public has full access to all relevant information, is informed about decision-making, and can effectively participate in this process. The Aarhus Convention, as strengthened by the GMO Amendment, offers all stakeholders a robust framework for public involvement in decision-making in this area.