Regulating Genetically Modified Crops in View of Environmental Risks: China’s Implementation of International Obligations

Description

This book analyzes international and Chinese regulatory approaches addressing environmental risks that may be caused by GM crops and examines how China implements its international obligations in its policies and laws. Using the legal doctrinal method, the book discusses the precautionary principle and the public involvement principle, as well as several legal measures at the international law level and in Chinese law. It observes that legal principles and measures as provided for in China’s GMO legal framework have generally implemented the international obligations regarding the prevention of environmental risks that may be caused by the cultivation of GM crops and related activities. However, the book argues that Chinese law lacks an explicit codification of the precautionary principle, and the same is true with regard to public participation; the regulatory framework lacks specific obligations. It concludes that future research should focus on the application and enforcement of the relevant Chinese legislation, and that it is also important to investigate how the environmental risks that may be caused by new techniques, such as genome-editing techniques, could be prevented, given the experience gained by regulating the cultivation of GM crops and related activities. Preface Contents About the Author Abbreviations 1 Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by GM Crops 1.1 Biotechnology and GM Crops 1.2 Traits of GM Crops 1.3 The Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 1.3.1 Activities Associated with the Development and the Use of GM Crops 1.3.2 The Status Quo of the Cultivation of GM Crops 1.4 The Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 1.4.1 The Reduction of the Amount of Chemical Pesticides 1.4.2 The Impact on Ecosystems 1.5 Reflections from a Legal Perspective References 2 The International Regulatory Approach Addressing Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by GM Crops 2.1 Reasons for Adopting International Law to Regulate GM Crops 2.2 International Instruments to Be Discussed in the Chapter 2.3 The International Legal Framework 2.3.1 Relationships Between the CBD, the CPB and the SP 2.3.2 Dispute Settlement and Compliance Mechanisms 2.4 The CBD 2.4.1 Objectives 2.4.2 The Application of the CBD to the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 2.4.3 Legal Measures in the CBD 2.5 The CPB 2.5.1 Objectives 2.5.2 The Scope of Application and Its Application to the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 2.5.3 Legal Principles and Measures in the CPB 2.6 The SP 2.6.1 Objectives 2.6.2 The Scope of Application and Its Application to the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 2.6.3 Legal Measures in the SP 2.7 Conclusion References 3 The Chinese Regulatory Framework and Institutional Structure Addressing Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by GM Crops 3.1 The Regulatory Framework 3.1.1 Introduction to the Chinese Legal System 3.1.2 Legislation and Policies for Environmental Issues Related to GM Crops 3.1.3 Interim Conclusion 3.2 GM Crop Safety Management Authorities 3.2.1 The Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference 3.2.2 The MARA 3.2.3 The MEE 3.3 Conclusion References 4 Legal Principles Addressing Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by GM Crops in China 4.1 The Precautionary Principle 4.1.1 The International Obligation of China to Implement the Precautionary Approach Regarding GM Crops 4.1.2 The Precautionary Principle Regarding the Regulation of GM Crops in China 4.1.3 The Application of the Precautionary Principle in the Regulation of GM Crops in China 4.1.4 Interim Conclusion 4.2 The Public Involvement Principle 4.2.1 China’s International Obligations Regarding the Public Involvement Principle in the Regulation of GM Crops 4.2.2 The Definition of the Public Involvement Principle and the Approach to Discussing It 4.2.3 Access to Information Regarding the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 4.2.4 Public Participation in Decision-Making Regarding the Regulation of the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 4.2.5 Access to Justice in Environmental Matters Related to GM Crops 4.2.6 Implementation of China’s International Obligations Regarding Public Involvement 4.2.7 Conclusion 4.3 Conclusion References 5 Legal Measures Addressing Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by GM Crops in China 5.1 Biosafety Certificates for GM Crops 5.1.1 The Definition and Types of Biosafety Certificates 5.1.2 Biosafety Certificates for Agricultural GMOs for Production 5.1.3 Biosafety Certificates for Agricultural GMOs to Be Used as Raw Materials for Processing 5.1.4 Contents of Biosafety Certificates 5.1.5 The Renewal of Biosafety Certificates 5.1.6 GM Crops and Their Biosafety Certificates in China 5.1.7 Conclusion 5.2 Other Legal Requirements for Placing GM Seeds and GM Crops on the Market 5.2.1 Introduction 5.2.2 The Validation and Registration of GM Varieties and Plant Variety Rights 5.2.3 Applying for Production and Business Operation Licences for GM Seeds 5.2.4 Applying for Permits for the Production and Processing of GM Crops 5.2.5 Labelling of GM Crops 5.2.6 Conclusion 5.3 The Reporting, Inspection, and Emergency Mechanisms 5.3.1 Introduction 5.3.2 The Reporting Mechanism 5.3.3 The Inspection Mechanism 5.3.4 Emergency Measures 5.3.5 Conclusion 5.4 Liability Rules 5.4.1 Introduction 5.4.2 Administrative Liability 5.4.3 Civil Liability Rules 5.4.4 Criminal Liability Rules 5.4.5 Conclusion 5.5 Conclusion References 6 Conclusion 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The International Obligations of China to Address the Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities 6.2.1 Applicable International Instruments and Their Scope 6.2.2 China’s International Obligations 6.3 The Regulatory Framework and the Institutional Structure Addressing Environmental Risks That May Be Caused by the Cultivation of GM Crops and Related Activities in China 6.3.1 Sources of Law and Their Scope 6.3.2 The Institutional Structure 6.4 China’s Implementation of International Obligations 6.4.1 To Regulate, Manage or Control the Risks That May Be Caused by LMOs 6.4.2 The Decision-Making Procedures Regarding Imports and the Domestic Use of LMOs 6.4.3 To Share Information Related to LMOs 6.4.4 Measures Addressing Unintentional and Illegal Transboundary Movements of LMOs 6.4.5 The Handling, Transport, Packaging, and Identification Measures 6.4.6 Liability and Redress Rules 6.5 Final Conclusion, Limitations and Future Research