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Genetically Modified Food Trade Regulation in view of Environmental Policy Objectives

:	Marie Kreipe
:	Genetically Modified Food Trade Regulation in view of Environmental Policy Objectives
:	Diplomica Verlag GmbH
:	9783842800137
:	1
:	CHF 31.10
:

:	Volkswirtschaft
:	English

:	92
:	kein Kopierschutz/DRM
:	PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
:	PDF

The controversial issue of genetically modified (GM) food is discussed in this book. While the United States (US) is a strong supporter of GM technology having adopted a rather lax regulation of trade with GM products, the European Union (EU) is representing a sceptical position towards this new technology and has even imposed a de facto moratorium on further approval of GM products from 1998 to 2004. The purpose of this book is an extensive analysis of the current status on risks and benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and a suggestion on how an appropriate regulation of GM products could be derived. Potential guidelines are provided for policy formulation both in a qualitative and in a quantitative dimension. The US is applying the principle of substantial equivalence, which means that GM products are in their substance identical to products produced by conventional methods. Therefore, no new regulations are necessary for the trade with GM products. In contrast, the European Union (EU) disagrees that GM products are equivalent to their conventional counterparts due to the different production process. Instead, the EU refers to the precautionary principle in its GMO policy, meaning that trade with GM products should be restricted until it will be proven that no additional risks are implied by the use of these products. The divergence of opinions about the right policy to regulate GM products has significant impacts on trade flows and welfare effects. The US and the EU have already tried to resolve their dispute before the World Trade Organization (WTO). Relevant laws of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the WTO are presented as well as indications for a potential consensus.

	Genetically Modified Food	1
	Abstract	3
	Table of contents	5
	Acronyms and abbreviations	7
	List of figures	10
	List of tables	10
	Introduction	11
	1 Portrait: Genetically modified food	13
	1.1 Definition and characteristics of GM food	13
	1.2 Negative impacts of GM food	17
	1.2.1 Risks for human health	17
	1.2.2 Risks for the environment	18
	1.3 Positive impacts of GM food	20
	1.3.1 Benefits for farmers	20
	1.3.2 Benefits for the environment	22
	1.3.3 Benefits for consumers	24
	1.3.4 Benefits for developing counties	25
	2 Trade policy: Two approaches	26
	2.1 US: The	26
	26	26
	2.2 EU: The	26
	28	26
	3 The legal framework for trade with GMOs	32
	3.1 Legislation of the World Trade Organization	32
	3.1.1 Article I and III GATT (WTO)	32
	3.1.2 Article XI GATT (WTO)	33
	3.1.3 Article XX GATT (WTO)	33
	3.1.4 WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement	34
	3.1.5 WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement	35
	3.2 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety	35
	3.3 Implications for the EU-US trade dispute on GMOs	37
	4 Tensions between GMO trade policy and environmental policy objectives	40
	4.1 Scientific findings about risks of GM food	40
	4.2 GMO policy against the background of limited scientific findings – qualitative approach	41
	4.2.1 Utilitarian theory as a basis for policy formulation	42
	4.2.2 Normative theory as a basis for policy formulation	43
	4.2.3 Behavior of consumers as a basis of policy formulation	46
	4.2.4 Behavior of biotech firms as a basis of policy formulation	49
	4.3 GMO policy against the background of limited scientific findings – quantitative approach	56
	4.4 Conclusions about the appropriate GMO policy	58
	5 Consequences for international trade	61
	5.1 Trade flows and global welfare effects	61
	5.2 Potential protectionist behavior of the EU	63
	5.3 Risk of an isolation of the EU from international trade	65
	5.4 Recovery of international trade	66
	Conclusion	68
	Appendices	70
	Bibliography	79
	Autorenprofil	91