US embassy cable - 04COLOMBO2043

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 002043 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, ETRD, EAGR, EAID, TBIO 
SUBJECT: CARTEGENA PROTOCOL ON BIO SAFETY 
 
 
FOR STATE/OES/ETC: H.LEE 
STATE/EB/TPP/ABT: R. SINGH 
USDA/FAS/BIG: JPPASSINO 
 
REF: STATE 259661 
 
1.As a signatory to the Convention on Biological 
Diversity and Cartagena Protocol on Bio Safety, Sri 
Lanka is developing its own National Bio Safety 
Framework for Sri Lanka (NBFSL) in order to comply with 
articles of the Protocol.  The National Biosafety 
Framework Project, under the purview of the Ministry of 
Environment and Natural Resources, has compiled a draft 
NBSFL. 
 
2.The NBFSL recognizes the potential of 
biotechnology to develop domestic agriculture and also 
addresses concerns of the technology and proposes 
measures, which would contain policies and procedures 
to ensure the safe application of all biotechnologies, 
, 
and any activity associated with GMO's that may 
adversely affect the conservation and sustainable use 
of biodiversity and biological resources.  The Ministry 
of Agriculture has also identified biotechnology as a 
major thrust area in priority setting and strategic 
planning in the National Agriculture Research Policy 
for the period 2003-2010. 
 
3.There are no current regulations in place to 
restrict or regulate the import of GM foods or products 
derived from biotechnology into the country.   The 
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has no plans to impose a 
ban on GMO's, although a couple of NGO's are lobbying 
for greater restrictions.  The Ministry of Health, 
which regulates the manufacture, import, sales and 
distribution of food products in the country, has 
rejected these representations on the basis that Sri 
Lanka is bound to ensure adherence to commitments with 
international trade agreements, organizations and 
practices. 
 
4.  A report in June 2004 by the subcommittee on legal 
aspects that has been appointed by the Ministry of 
Health to deal with specific regulations with respect 
to GMO's and related issues has proposed 
recommendations which include: 
- Compulsory labeling of GMO's 
- A new law to be enacted to regulate and monitor 
applications of modern biotechnologies including all 
GMO's, LMO's and products 
- Enact draft regulations by the Ministry of Health, 
which will require approval of GM foods on a case-by 
case system 
- The Precautionary Principle to be applied, 
particularly in areas of uncertainty 
- Regulate and if necessary prevent any animal feed 
containing GM materials to be brought into the country 
- Incorporate regulations to relevant enactments such 
as the Plant Protection Act, Food Act, Consumer Affairs 
Authority Act, Control of Pesticides Act and Fisheries 
& Aquatic Resources Act to regulate, control and, when 
necessary, prohibit the entry of GMO's relevant to the 
respective sectors.  According to the National Project 
Coordinator of the NBFSL, these proposed 
recommendations are requirements of the Cartagena 
Protocol. 
 
5.  Comment:  There does not seem to be much direction 
to the country's biotech policies and regulations.  Sri 
Lanka announced a ban on imports of GM products in 
2001, only to revoke it without implementation due to 
lobbying from the food industry and foreign missions. 
A senior GSL official in the agriculture sector has 
privately commented that the NBFSL recommendations have 
little chance of being implemented due to the lack of 
cohesion among key stakeholders and scarcity of 
qualified personnel to evaluate the proposals.  The 
National Project Coordinator of the NBFSL, who will 
complete his assignment in February of 2005, also 
expressed this view.  He feels there is insufficient 
expertise or competent personnel to take the Framework 
forward.  A database containing local resources and 
personnel on biotechnology is virtually defunct and the 
NBFSL website is no longer being maintained.  There is 
more concern by the GSL regarding an invasive species 
causing harm to the country's biodiversity through 
imports of GM plants and planting material than over GM 
foods, which are widely imported and consumed in the 
country at present.  Although a few NGO's and GSL 
officials continue to be vocal in their opposition to 
biotechnology and GM foods, the GSL is not in a 
position to re-impose a ban while maintaining their WTO 
commitments.  It is unlikely that procedures and laws 
to regularize GMO's and products derived from 
biotechnology will be introduced in the foreseeable 
future. 
 
Post Initiatives 
 
6.  Post has recently submitted a request for a biotech 
speaker to meet with key stakeholders as well as 
educate consumers on GM and biotech foods.  Post 
sponsored a similar program in 2002 and saw very 
positive results.  The public has limited information 
on biotechnology or it's potential to develop the 
agriculture sector and provide cheaper food for the 
population.  Most local media publicity on 
biotechnology focuses on the potential negative aspects 
of biotechnology, with little or no coverage given to 
its proven advantages.  Post has periodically engaged 
the host government on this issue since the pivotal 
role played by the Embassy in persuading GSL to suspend 
the proposed GM ban in 2001.  Although the issue of 
restricting biotechnology and GMO's continues to 
surface in the media, no steps have been taken to 
restrict or prohibit the entry of GM products in to Sri 
Lanka. 
 
LUNSTEAD