The EC Biotech case and its implications for measures affecting genetically modified organisms

Abstract

South Africa has placed itself in the forefront of the development and application of biotechnology products such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The country is said to be one of the top six GM crop planting countries in the world. However, not everyone applauds this GMO-friendly policy and a number of non-governmental organisations have asked for a moratorium on the development and import of GMOs and GM products. South Africa did not heed this call, but it did place a moratorium on the clearance of new GM commodity products destined to be used as food or feed. This means that while imports of previously cleared GMOs continue, no new GMO commodities have been imported since 2005, despite the fact that risk assessments were concluded on these commodities. The GMO Council, the primary regulatory body in terms of the GMO Act, will make a final decision, pending the outcome of a socio-economic study being conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry. This prompts the question what the legal status of such a moratorium under World Trade Organisation (WTO) law is, and to what extent South Africa is violating its legal obligations under the WTO in imposing such a moratorium. AFRIKAANS : Suid Afrika is in die voorste geledere op die gebied van die ontwikkeling van biotegnologie en spesifiek die ontwikkeling van geneties-gemodifiseerde organismes (GMOs). Daar is egter toenemende weerstand teen die ontwikkeling en invoer van GMOs. Verskeie nie-regeringsorganisasies het oproepe gedoen vir 'n moratorium op GMO-ontwikkeling en -invoere, en Suid Afrika het intussen 'n moratorium geplaas op klarings vir nuwe geneties gemodifiseerde produkte vir gebruik as voedsel of veevoedsel. Hierdie bydrae bespreek die onlangse beslissing in European Communities - Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products oor biotegnologiese produkte. In hierdie saak is bevind dat die Europese Unie se moratorium in stryd is met die reëls van die Wêreldhandelsorganisasie (WHO), spesifiek wat betref die prosedurele aspekte daarvan. In die lig van hierdie beslissing word die Suid Afrikaanse moratorium ondersoek en word bepaal of dit moontlik die WHO reëls kan oortree.