Precautionary Principle under Biosafety Protocol

The essential component of the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety is the precautionary principle, which has far-reaching implications for India's export potential in agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Under this regime precaution precedes scientific proof under the pretext of risk to human health and environmental damage. However, the WTO ruling on the beef-hormone case between the EU and the US establishes a definite link between trade and precautionary approach.