The Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on liability and redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted on October 15, 2010 in Nagoya (Japan) at the 5th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It came into effect in March 5, 2018 after its ratification by 41 Parties.
It completes the Cartagena Protocol by establishing international rules in case of damage to biodiversity caused by transboundary movements of living modified organisms. Living modified organisms are a subset of genetically modified organisms and are organisms that are alive and capable of reproduction in the environnement.
This international treaty is a legally binding instrument that establishes an international benchmark on which many countries base their own regulations. It prescribes response measures in the event of damage resulting from living modified organisms or if there is a sufficient likelihood that damage will result if timely response measures are not taken. It also contains provisions on civil liability.
"The entry into force of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol represents a milestone in the history of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The entry into force of this important instrument provides a key piece of the international regulatory regime applying to living modified organisms. It provides practical rules to respond to damage resulting from living modified organisms that find their origin in a transboundary movement and gives effect to the polluter pays principle."
Mr. Rafael Pacchiano Alamán, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico, and President of the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
