Trade, regulation and approaches to science policy

Trade regimes and the international regulatory frameworks that govern modern biotechnologies affect the choices that developing countries can make about whether to grow and export GM crops or allow their import (whether as commercially traded commodities or shipments of food aid in emergencies).

These governance regimes have been strongly shaped around the dominant interests of powerful Northern states, which have sought to facilitate and encourage the commercial production and trade of GM crops and foods. As part of this process, certain key assumptions have been made about the types of risk-assessment and regulation – based on a particular conception of ‘sound science’ – that are considered to be legitimate foundations for national frameworks for governing GMOs. Internationally, considerable efforts have been made, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to encourage the spread of this standardised model to countries around the world.

This narrowly defined, one-size-fits-all approach has the potential to limit the capacity of developing countries to develop regulatory systems that correspond with their own particular circumstances, needs and development priorities. Nevertheless, there is scope within the current system for developing countries to develop regulatory approaches that suit their own circumstances and goals. Indeed, some of the more powerful developing countries, such as India, have achieved some success in developing a tailor-made model. In addition, it is important to recognise that harmonisation could bring some advantages for developing countries and regions, as well as imposing some constraints on the freedom of individual countries.