On October 14, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Uzbekistan’s Accession to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (Montreal, January 29, 2000) Bill into Law. The Bill was passed by the Legislative Chamber on October 9 and approved by the Senate on October 11.
According to the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol, the parties shall ensure that obtaining any genetically modified organisms, their processing, transportation, use, transfer and release, is carried out in such a way not allow or minimize risks to biological diversity, taking into account risks to human health.
The MPs noted that joining the protocol will prevent a potential threat from the use of modern biotechnology and expand the range of domestic products exported.
“The adoption of this document will provide Uzbekistan with the opportunity to freely develop trade relations with the countries of the European Union without paying duties on 6,200 types of products, and, according to macroeconomic forecasts, will allow in the future to increase the country's exports by three times, that is, up to 1.3 billion US dollars. ", the Senate press service said in a statement.
Uzbekistan will also have the opportunity to use certain financial resources and technologies provided for in the protocol in the framework of assistance to developing countries, while ensuring its full use.
To date, 171 states have joined the protocol, including the European Union as an international organization.
