Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OSLO113
2009-02-13 14:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

NORWEGIANS UNHELPFUL ON CARTAGENA PROTOCOL

Tags:  EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO 
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VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0113 0441446
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131446Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7355
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000113 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2019
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS UNHELPFUL ON CARTAGENA PROTOCOL
BIOSAFETY LIABILITY AND REDRESS

REF: STATE 11910

Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000113

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2019
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO
SUBJECT: NORWEGIANS UNHELPFUL ON CARTAGENA PROTOCOL
BIOSAFETY LIABILITY AND REDRESS

REF: STATE 11910

Classified By: Political Counselor Kristen Bauer for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)


1. (C) Poloff had a friendly discussion with the GON
official, Birthe Ivars, who will represent Norway in Mexico
City on 23-27 February to negotiate the text of proposed
rules on liability and redress for damage resulting from
cross-border movement of living modified organisms. The
Norwegian position is opposed to ours in almost every
respect. The following catalogue of GON positions is keyed
to paragraph 6 of reftel demarche:

--Definition of Damage: The Norwegian position is that
damage to biodiversity, human health, and loss of income
should be included, although not "cultural" damage per se.
The GON doesn't like the current language on "significant"
damage because they find it vague and insufficiently sweeping.

--Definition of Operator: The Norwegians could "live with"
the (narrow) definition we support, but also are not going to
oppose a more broad definition of who is an operator.

--Standard of Liability: The Norwegians favor a
strict-liability scheme, and oppose our fault-based scheme.

--Financial Security: The Norwegian position is that
national governments should be able to decide whether they
require insurance or not.

--Binding versus Nonbinding: The Norwegian government
strongly desires a binding "administrative approach" system,
as well as a binding civil liability system.


2. (C) Comment: Norway's positions are a direct result of the
government platform of the current administration, and are
unlikely to be changed through any amount of lobbying; USG
persuasive efforts are best applied to other countries. End
comment.
WHITNEY