REPORT ON FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 005323 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05323 01 OF 05 310829Z IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN SETH WINNICK AND EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALIC IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM AND JOSETTE LEWIS USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: REPORT ON FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE REF: ROME 3174 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: THE NINTH SESSION OF THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE MET OCTOBER 14-19, CHAIRED BY ROB BERTRAM OF THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE COMMISSION ENDORSED A DRAFT MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT (MTA) FOR THE PLANT GERMPLASM HELD IN TRUST BY THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTERS. THE MTA CONTAINS LANGUAGE ON VOLUNTARY BENEFIT SHARING, BUT (DESPITE G-77 EFFORTS) NO LANGUAGE ON THE NEED FOR SIGNATURES OR TRACKING. ON BIOTECHNOLOGY, THE COMMISSION AGREED THAT THE FAO WOULD STUDY WHERE THE ISSUES IN THE ORIGINAL CODE OF CONDUCT ON UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05323 01 OF 05 310829Z BIOTECHNOLOGY HAVE BEEN OVERTAKEN OR COVERED BY OTHER BODIES. THE FAO REPORT ON GENETIC END USE RESTRICTION TECHNOLOGY (GURTS) WILL BE SENT TO THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY FOR INFORMATION WITH U.S. COMMENTS APPENDED. A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRY CROP BIODIVERSITY AS A RESULT OF THE INADVERTENT PLANTING OF BIOTECH ENGINEERED SEEDS INTENDED AS FOOD AID. THE FAO SECRETARIAT STATED THAT IT WAS "ADVISING COUNTRIES TO MILL FOOD AID RECEIVED IN SEED FORM ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NUTRITIONAL GROUNDS." THE COMMISSION CONTINUES TO BE A HIGHLY POLITICIZED BODY ON WHICH THE U.S. NEEDS TO KEEP CLOSE TABS, FROM A TECHNICAL AS WELL AS POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) THE FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (CGRFA) MET OCTOBER 14-19, 2002 IN ROME. U.S. DELEGATE ROB BERTRAM, CHIEF, POLICY AND MULTILATERAL PROGRAMS DIVISION, OFFICE OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAIRED THE SESSION. THE SESSION MET DIRECTLY AFTER THE FIRST SESSION OF INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR THE TREATY ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (SEPTEL). THE U.S. DELEGATION INCLUDED WANDA COLLINS (USDA/ARS), HARVEY BLACKBURN (USDA/ARS) AND LUCY TAMLYN (FODAG). ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES -------------- ¶3. (U) THE COMMISSION EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO COMPLETE THE FIRST REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05323 01 OF 05 310829Z GENETIC RESOURCES BY 2006 (AN ACTIVITY WHICH HAS BEEN HELD UP BY LACK OF RESOURCES.) CALLS FOR THE COMMISSION TO TAKE UP A NEW INTERNATIONAL BINDING TREATY ON ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES DID NOT REPRESENT A BROAD CONSENSUS AND WERE DEFLECTED. THE REPORT STATES THAT THE ISSUE IS LEFT OPEN FOR "FUTURE SESSIONS OF THE COMMISSION." THE U.S. WAS RE-ELECTED TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES. PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE -------------- --- ¶4. (U) COMMISSION MEMBERS PROPOSED WAYS TO IMPROVE IMPLEMENTING AND MONITORING OF THE GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, BUT AGREED THAT IT WAS PREMATURE TO REVISE THE PLAN. U.S. AND CANADA QUESTIONED THE NEED TO INCLUDE BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY AS A PRIORITY IN THE SECOND "STATE OF THE WORLD'S PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE" REPORT, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE POTENTIAL OVERLAP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. OTHER DELEGATES, SUCH AS CUBA UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO1523 PAGE 01 ROME 05323 02 OF 05 310829Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 CAEX-01 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /006W -------------- 012ED3 310829Z /38 R 310724Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6670 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2378 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY HARARE AMEMBASSY MAPUTO AMEMBASSY LUSAKA USEU BRUSSELS 2900 AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 05 ROME 005323 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05323 02 OF 05 310829Z IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN SETH WINNICK AND EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALIC IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM AND JOSETTE LEWIS USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: REPORT ON FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AND ANGOLA, STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE INCLUSION OF BIOSAFETY, NOTING AS AN EXAMPLE THE ALLEGED PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF BIOTECH ENGINEERED FOOD AID (IN SEED FORM) AND ITS POSSIBLE IMPACT ON BIODIVERSITY. ¶5. (U) AN AMBITIOUS FAO PROGRAM FOR FUNDING THE GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION, ENTITLED THE "FACILITATING MECHANISM" RECEIVED A TEPID WELCOME. DONORS (PARTICULARLY EU COUNTRIES) FELT THAT THE FAO HAD MOVED TOO FAST TO CREATE A FUND-RAISING MECHANISM WITHOUT CONSULTING ADEQUATELY WITH POTENTIAL DONORS ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF RAISING SUCH FUNDS. EU MEMBERS ALSO NOTED WITH CONCERN THE POSSIBILITY OF OVERLAP WITH THE FUNDING STRATEGY OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05323 02 OF 05 310829Z EX SITU COLLECTIONS OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES HELD BY THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTERS (IARCS) OF THE CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH (CGIAR) AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIONS -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) DISCUSSION UNDER THE AGENDA ITEM ON EX SITU COLLECTIONS INCLUDED ALLEGATIONS OF INAPPROPRIATE GRANTING OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ON MATERIALS ORIGINATING FROM THE IARCS. G-77 COUNTRIES MOST FREQUENTLY CITED THE "ENOLA BEAN" PATENT CASE IN THIS REGARD. THE CGIAR REPRESENTATIVE NOTED 1) THE MATERIAL HAD NOT ORIGINATED IN THE IARC'S "IN-TRUST" COLLECTIONS AND THAT 2) THE LEGAL CASE BROUGHT BY IARC CIAT (COLOMBIA) "MAY BE EFFECTIVE IN BLOCKING THE PATENT." CITING RECENT REPORTS ON MEXICAN MAIZE, A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF "GENE FLOW" FROM TRANSGENIC CROPS AND REQUESTED THE IARCS TO TAKE STRONGER MEASURES TO PROTECT THEIR COLLECTIONS FROM "CONTAMINATION." (COMMENT: THE FAO DOCUMENT ON THIS MATTER STATED THAT IARC CIMMYT (MEXICO) HAD CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TRANSGENES IN THE CIMMYT MAIZE COLLECTION AND THAT STATEMENTS TO THE CONTRARY WERE "NOT BASED ON RELIABLE FACTS." END COMMENT.) RENEWAL OF THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE IARCS AND THE FAO -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) THE RENEWAL OF AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE IARCS AND THE FAO PLACING COLLECTIONS OF PLANT GERMPLASM UNDER THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05323 02 OF 05 310829Z AUSPICES OF THE FAO WAS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ITEM OF THE COMMISSION SESSION, INVOLVING CLOSE TO THREE FULL DAYS OF NEGOTIATIONS. THE G-77 -- HAVING JUST AGREED IN THE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO SET UP AN EXPERT GROUP TO MAKE PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE MATERIAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT -- PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO PREJUDGE THE OUTCOME OF THE GROUP CONCERNING BENEFIT SHARING, THE NEED FOR SIGNATURES ON THE MTA AND TRACKING OF MATERIAL RECEIVED FROM THE IARCS. THE FINAL OUTCOME DOES INCLUDE BENEFIT SHARING (VOLUNTARY) BUT NO MENTION OF SIGNATURES OR TRACKING. ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT: CANADA (WHICH WAS REPRESENTED IN THE NEGOTIATION),SUBSEQUENTLY VOICED CONCERN TO USDEL THAT THE BENEFIT SHARING PROVISION COULD BE A POOR PRECEDENT FOR THE FUTURE TREATY MTA SINCE IT BROADENED THE BENEFIT SHARING TO INCLUDE MORE THAN COMMERCIAL BENEFIT SHARING, AND INCLUDED ASPECTS OF BENEFIT SHARING THAT ARE - PER THE TREATY - STRICTLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STATE PARTIES. HIS CONCERN IS THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS BENEFIT SHARING LANGUAGE, (WHICH INCLUDES OPEN-ENDED SUGGESTIONS FOR TECH TRANSFER, TRAINING, ETC),COULD PLACE THE ONUS ON PRIVATE COMPANIES TO NEGOTIATE THESE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO1525 PAGE 01 ROME 05323 03 OF 05 310830Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 CAEX-01 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /006W -------------- 012EE7 310830Z /38 R 310724Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6671 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2379 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY HARARE AMEMBASSY MAPUTO AMEMBASSY LUSAKA USEU BRUSSELS 2901 AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 05 ROME 005323 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05323 03 OF 05 310830Z IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN SETH WINNICK AND EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALIC IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM AND JOSETTE LEWIS USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: REPORT ON FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ISSUES WITH THE PROVIDER OF GERMPLASM, WHEREAS THE GOAL OF THE TREATY WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR DID NOT NEED TO NEGOTIATE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS FOR GERMPLASM (A LA CBD). ALTHOUGH THE COMMISSION REPORT STATES THAT THE AMENDED MTA IS "WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY MTA TO BE ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE TREATY, THIS POINT NEEDS TO BE BORNE IN MIND DURING THE EXPERT GROUP DISCUSSIONS OF THE TREATY MTA. END COMMENT. INTERGOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE -------------- -------------- UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05323 03 OF 05 310830Z ¶9. (U) THE U.S. WAS RE-ELECTED TO THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON PGRFA. THE GROUP WILL HAVE A FULL PLATE OF ISSUES, AS THE COMMISSION ASKED THAT IT EXAMINE A NUMBER OF ISSUES, INCLUDING GUIDANCE ON PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S GENETIC RESOURCES, STRENGTHENING THE GLOBAL PLAN OF ACTION, ADVISING THE FACILITATING MECHANISM, AND THE POSSIBLE NEED TO UPDATE ELEMENTS OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PLANT GERMPLASM COLLECTING AND TRANSFER. IN SITU CONSERVATION -------------- ¶10. A NUMBER OF MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSED FAO COLLABORATION ON "GLOBALLY IMPORTANT INGENIOUS AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS" COULD BE AN INDIRECT MEANS OF SUPPORTING SUBSIDIES FOR DEVELOPED COUNTRY AGRICULTURE AND SUBSIDIES. THESE CONCERNS ARE EXPRESSED IN THE REPORT ALONG WITH A LUKEWARM ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROJECT (FUNDED BY GEF, IMPLEMENTED BY UNDP). FAO POLICIES AND PROGRAMS - THE BIOTECH DEBATE -------------- - ¶11. THE U.S. STATEMENT UNDER THE AGENDA ITEM ON FAO POLICIES AND PROGRAMS CALLED ATTENTION TO MISTAKES IN THE FAO'S GLOSSARY ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND IDENTIFIED THE FAO'S ETHICS PROGRAMS AS A LOW PRIORITY. USDEL ALSO CALLED UPON THE FAO TO SERVE AS A BETTER COMMUNICATOR AND EDUCATOR ON BIOTECH ISSUES, AND CITED THE RECENTLY RELEASED STATEMENT BY THE DIRECTOR GENERALS OF FAO AND WHO AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WFP CONCERNING BIOTECH UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05323 03 OF 05 310830Z ENGINEERED FOOD AID AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF LEADING. USDEL STRESSED THE NEED FOR FAO TO PROVIDE "SCIENCE-BASED" ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT ON THE USE AND SAFETY OF BIOTECH ENGINEERED FOOD. SOME DELEGATES (IRAN, MALAYSIA, AND BURKINA FASO) SPOKE CAUTIOUSLY IN FAVOR OF THE FAO TAKING A STRONGER ROLE IN ASSISTING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH BIOTECHNOLOGY. (COMMENT: A MEMBER OF THE FAO SECRETARIAT APPROACHED USDEL AFTER THE INTERVENTION AND AGREED THAT THE GLOSSARY CONTAINED SOME "BIASED" DEFINITIONS AND INVITED THE U.S. TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXT REVISION OF THE GLOSSARY. END COMMENT). FAO DEFENDS ADVICE ON MILLING BIOTECH ENGINEERED FOOD AID -------------- -------------- ¶12. (U) OTHER COUNTRIES EXPRESSED CONCERN IN RELATION TO THE IMPACT ON OF DISTRIBUTION OF "TRANSGENIC" FOOD "WITHOUT PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT" AND THE "POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS TO IN SITU PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES." THE FAO SECRETARIAT (JIM DARGIE, CHAIR OF THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL SIPDIS WORKING GROUP ON BIOTECHNOLOGY) STATED THAT THE FAO WAS "ADVISING COUNTRIES TO MILL FOOD AID" BECAUSE OF UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2176 PAGE 01 ROME 05323 04 OF 05 310830Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 CAEX-01 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /006W -------------- 012EF6 310830Z /38 R 310724Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6672 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2380 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY HARARE AMEMBASSY MAPUTO AMEMBASSY LUSAKA USEU BRUSSELS 2902 AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 05 ROME 005323 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05323 04 OF 05 310830Z IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN SETH WINNICK AND EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALIC IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM AND JOSETTE LEWIS USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: REPORT ON FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND ALSO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FORTIFICATION. DARGIE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL COSTS, BUT MAINTAINED THAT THIS WAS "GOOD ADVICE" AND THAT FAO NEEDED TO BE AN "HONEST BROKER." HE NOTED THAT THE FAO ALSO ADVISED RECIPIENTS NOT TO PLANT FOOD AID "AS THEY WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IN THE YIELD." GLOBAL CONSERVATION TRUST -------------- ¶13. (U) UNDER REPORTS FROM OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE COMMISSION HEARD AN UPDATE ON THE GLOBAL CONSERVATION TRUST (INTENDED TO PROVIDE, IN PERPETUITY, A FLOW OF FUNDS FOR EX SITU CONSERVATION.) G- 77 MISTRUST OF THIS FUNDING MECHANISM AS AN ATTEMPT TO UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05323 04 OF 05 310830Z SUBVERT THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY'S "FUNDING STRATEGY" WAS SOMEWHAT ASSUAGED BY ASSURANCES BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES INSTITUTE (BASED OUTSIDE OF ROME) THAT THE "OVERALL POLICY GUIDANCE TO THE TRUST WOULD COME FROM THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE TREATY." GENETIC END USE TECHNOLOGY AKA "TERMINATOR" -------------- ¶14. (U) THE COMMISSION DISCUSSED THE FAO'S LATEST ATTEMPT (THE PREVIOUS ONE HAVING BEEN SENT BACK BY THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES) TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON GENETIC END USE TECHNOLOGY (GURTS),FREQUENTLY CALLED "TERMINATOR TECHNOLOGY." MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRY COMMISSION MEMBERS (AND NORWAY) CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT GURTS IS A "CONTRADICTION TO THE SPIRIT OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY." USDEL STATED THAT THE REPORT WAS UNBALANCED AND UNSCIENTIFIC. THE COMMISSION AGREED TO FORWARD THE REPORT FOR INFORMATION TO THE CONFERENCE OF PARTIES OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. THE COMMISSION INVITED THE USDEL TO SUBMIT COMMENTS WHICH WILL BE APPENDED TO THE REPORT. THE COMMISSION REPORT ALSO NOTES THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IN QUESTION IS CURRENTLY IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND IS NOT YET COMMERCIALIZED. CODES OF CONDUCT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PLANT GERMPLASM COLLECTING -------------- -------------- ¶15. (U) THE COMMISSION AGREED THAT THE CODE ON UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 ROME 05323 04 OF 05 310830Z COLLECTING AND TRANSFER MIGHT STILL BE USEFUL IN SOME CONTEXTS AND REQUESTED THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER THE CODE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION'S NEXT SESSION. ¶16. (U) CONCERNING THE CODE OF CONDUCT ON BIOTECHNOLOGY, THE COMMISSION ENDORSED THE PROPOSAL (PUT FORWARD BY THE EUROPEAN REGION) THAT THE FAO WOULD DO A STUDY TO IDENTIFY WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN OTHER FORA, AND IDENTIFY WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE, AND WHICH ISSUES WERE RELEVANT TO THE COMMISSION. THE STUDY WILL BE CONSIDERED AT THE NEXT COMMISSION SESSION. THE REPORT MAKES CLEAR THAT THE NEXT STEP MIGHT BE A CODE, GUIDELINES, OR OTHER COURSES OF ACTION. COMMENT -------------- ¶17. (SBU) THE COMMISSION IS A LIGHTNING ROD FOR POLARIZED VIEWS ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. NONETHELESS, MANY COMMENTATORS (FROM OTHER DELEGATIONS AND THE SECRETARIAT) EXPRESSED THE VIEW UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2177 PAGE 01 ROME 05323 05 OF 05 310830Z ACTION OES-01 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02 CAEX-01 PER-00 ACE-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 EPAE-00 ECA-00 SAS-00 /006W -------------- 012F02 310830Z /38 R 310724Z OCT 02 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6673 INFO USDA FAS WASHDC 2381 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY PRETORIA AMEMBASSY HARARE AMEMBASSY MAPUTO AMEMBASSY LUSAKA USEU BRUSSELS 2903 AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 05 ROME 005323 SIPDIS USDA FOR ARS:PETER BRETTING, JUNE BLALOCK, FAS:LYNNE REICH, DICK HUGHES, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: DAVID HEGWOOD STATE FOR OES/ENV RICK DRISCOLL, L/OES K. YOUEL PAGE AND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 05323 05 OF 05 310830Z IO/EDA ROSE BERSTEIN SETH WINNICK AND EB/TPP KLEMM AND MALIC IO/S LAUREN FLEJZOR, GEORGE ABRAHAMS USTR DARCI VETTER, MARK SLOAN USAID FOR ROB BERTRAM AND JOSETTE LEWIS USPTO FOR MARY CRITHARIS,LINDA LOURIE NSC JOHN CLOUD,KEN PEEL GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR NAIROBI FOR UNEP FROM FODAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR EAGR SENV FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SENV AORC FAO SUBJECT: REPORT ON FAO COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE TO USDEL THAT THIS SESSION HAD BEEN ONE OF THE MOST AMICABLE IN COMMISSION HISTORY. THE FACT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY IS BEHIND THE COMMISSION MAY ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THE PROGRESS. CERTAINLY THE EVEN-HANDED AND CONFIDENCE-BUILDING CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE U.S. CHAIR WAS WIDELY CREDITED WITH CREATING A FAVORABLE ATMOSPHERE. THAT BEING SAID, IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT MUCH OF DEBATE IN THE COMMISSION IS ANTITHETICAL TO U.S. (AND OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES) INTERESTS IN THE AREA OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. HERE, MORE THAN IN ANY OTHER BODY, THE FAILURE OF THE FAO TO MAINTAIN HIGH SCIENTIFIC STANDARDS IS ON DISPLAY (SEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SHODDY AND BIASED WORK IN THE GURTS REPORT AND IN THE MISTAKE-RIDDEN BIOTECHNOLOGY GLOSSARY.) UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 05323 05 OF 05 310830Z AS POLEMICS CAN LEAD TO ACTION (AS THE COMMISSION'S RECENTLY COMPLETED TREATY ON GENETIC RESOURCES DEMONSTRATES) IT IS A BODY ON WHICH THE U.S. NEEDS TO KEEP CLOSE TABS FROM A TECHNICAL AS WELL AS POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE. HALL UNCLASSIFIED > 2002ROME05323 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED