The Ministry of Rural Development is hosting a three-day session of the UN Working Group that is meeting for the 10th time to discuss capacity expansion issues relating to the Cartagena Protocol on the cross-border transport of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Experts arriving for the meeting from 13 different countries were welcomed by Deputy State Secretary for Parliamentary, Social and International Relations Katalin Tóth.

In her opening speech, the Deputy State Secretary stressed that cooperation and knowledge-sharing play an important role in the implementation of international treaties. Exchanging experiences is an indispensable tool to help countries meet challenges and gain further motivation for the realisation of the tasks set down by the Protocol. Ms. Tóth expressed her hope that during the course of the meeting the experts involved would review new opportunities and methods and succeed in taking a step forward along path that leads to the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol.

During the session of the Working Group, the participants will share their experiences with relation to the integration of GMO regulations into national biodiversity strategies and on the creation of the financial resources required for the implementation of the Protocol.

Hungary formulated its national biodiversity strategy at the end of 2013, and the legislation was adopted this February, including special emphasis on the regulation of GMOs. Accordingly, Hungary, in advance of most other countries, has already fulfilled its international obligations and is helping the work of the group of experts by sharing its related experiences. The strict regulation and monitoring of the transport and utilisation of genetically modified organisms is of extreme importance to Hungary, as is preserving the GMO-free status of the country's agriculture in accordance with Hungary's Constitution. This is one of the reasons why Hungary was asked to host the conference.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)