Welcome to Jamaica Biosafety Clearing-House

Following five years of negotiation under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol was adopted on 29 January 2000.  The Protocol applies to the safe transboundary movement, handling and use of all living organisms, and as such is the first enforceable international agreement of its kind.

Living modified organisms (LMO’s) are derived from the products of modern biotechnology and are anticipated to present a number of benefits such as increased crop yields and soil conservation.  However, as with any technology, the application of the products of modern biotechnology may also present a number of risks.  Biosafety is concerned with the need to protect the environment and human health from the possible adverse effects of the products of modern biotechnology (see Article 4). Read more...