The Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms - Comparative Approaches

* Provides a comparative approach that will appeal to a global audience * Up-to-date research provides new angles on this topical subject area * Written by a global list of established contributors offering authoritative individual chapters * Contains an interdisciplinary element, which will make this work of interest, not only to academic lawyers, but also to those working in the wider academic community, namely, in politics, economics, bioethics, and the social sciences generally * Themed approach groups comparative chapters together allowing for ease of cross-referencing as well as making the work approachable to those working in specific areas. The regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) continues to generate controversy. On the one hand, they are actively promoted by the biotechnology industry as vital to ensuring food security. Yet, on the other hand, consumer resistance persists, not least in the European Union, and such lack of confidence extends not just to GM food itself but also to the regulatory regime, where legal issues are inextricably linked with economics and politics. This edited collection provides a novel contribution to the ongoing debate, recognising that the legislative environment is complicated by forces as varied as national public opinion and world trade commitments. The book is divided into four parts. The first of these addresses the influence in this context of both civil society and economic imperatives. The second part is directed more specifically to the measures that have been implemented in the European Union, considering multi-level governance, wider aspects of food law, co-existence with conventional and organic crops, and environmental liability. The third part is comparative in focus, with chapters covering the diverse regimes implemented in Africa, Australia, North America and South America. The book concludes with chapters on world trade and international considerations, including analysis of the Biotech case.

Michael Cardwell: Introduction I. The Public, Economics, and Risk 1: Genetically Modified Organisms and the Public: Participation, Preferences, and Protest: 2: Christophe Charlier and Egizio Valceschini: The Importance and Limits of Cost-Benefit Analysis in the Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms 3: Karen Morrow: Genetically Modified Organisms and Risk II. The European Union 4: Marine Friant-Perrot: The European Union Regulatory Regime for Genetically Modified Organisms and its Integration into Community Food Law and Policy 5: Maria Lee: Multi-level Governance of Genetically Modified Organisms in the European Union: Ambiguity and Hierarchy 6: Margaret Rosso Grossman: Coexistence of Genetically Modified, Conventional, and Organic Crops in the European Union: The Community Framework 7: Luc Bodiguel, Michael Cardwell, Ana Carretero Garcia, and Domenico Viti: Coexistence of Genetically Modified, Conventional, and Organic Crops in the European Union: National Implementation 8: Christopher Rodgers: Implementing the Community Environmental Liability Directive: Genetially Modified Organisms and the Problem of Unknown Risk III. Regulation Beyond the European Union 9: Fikremarkos Merso Birhanu: Genetically Modified Organisms in Africa: Regulating a Threat or an Opportunity? 10: Jane Matthews Glenn: The Coexistence of Genetically Modified and Non-genetically Modified Agriculture in Canada: A Courtroom Drama 11: Rosario Silva Gilli: Genetically Modified Organisms in MERCOSUR 12: Margaret Rosso Grossman: Genetically Modified Crops and Food in the United States: The Federal Regulatory Framework, State Measures, and Liability in Tort IV. International Implications 13: Joseph McMahon: The EC-Biotech Decisions: Another Missed Opportunity? 14: Duncan French: The Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms and International Law: A Call for Generality Luc Bodiguel: Conclusion