[GA - PASSED] Repeal "GMO International Trade Accord"

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Repeal "GMO International Trade Accord"
Category: Repeal | GA #509
Proposed by: Regnum Italiae | Onsite Topic
Replacement: None​

General Assembly Resolution #509 “GMO International Trade Accord” (Category: Regulation; Area of Effect: Consumer Protection) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.

The World Assembly,

Acknowledging that regulation of trade of genetically modified organisms, which General Assembly Resolution #509 “GMO International Trade Accord” tried to address, is an important area of legislation most likely in need of attention from the World Assembly; but

Noting that unclear measures lead to unforeseen consequences which can do more harm than good;

Concerned by many issues, including:
  1. The exclusion of genetic modifications obtained through hybridisation or selective breeding as a result of the limited definition of biotechnology, which pose comparable threats to the environment;

  2. The resolution’s failure to explicitly require member nations to enforce regulations created by the Committee for the Regulation of Modified Products, allowing for nations to easily dodge compliance of these provisions without penalty;

  3. The vagueness of the term ‘reasonable’ that is used so often in regard to safety measures throughout the resolution, especially in sections 3 and 4, as the use of this term allows an excessively ambiguous and free interpretation of what is the best effort possible in the matter of safety. The term reasonable is in fact inherently relative in its definition and this implies that nations can set up measures as they see fit to their contingent situation, without any kind of control, thus making it possible for them to hugely disregard security when profitable;

  4. The lack of regulations of intellectual property, thus granting undisciplined privileges to corporations and private institutions, like the possibility to stop outside research or create monopolies, which undermines the resolution's call for improving research and the exchange of information between member nations; and

  5. The presence, in section 4, of exemptions to unsterilized plants GMOs, since requirements like “in cases where the environmental benefit [...] clearly outweigh any downsides of their use” are loose enough to let member nations set their own policies without any way to ascertain the truthfulness of their reasons especially since there are no overseeing authorities; and
Concluding that such overlooked flaws completely undermine the effectiveness of the resolution as a whole; hereby

Repeals General Assembly Resolution #509 “GMO International Trade Accord”.

Co-authored by Honeydewistania
Note: Only votes from TNP WA nations and NPA personnel will be counted. If you do not meet these requirements, please add (non-WA) or something of that effect to your vote.
Voting Instructions:
  • Vote For if you want the Delegate to vote For the resolution.
  • Vote Against if you want the Delegate to vote Against the resolution.
  • Vote Abstain if you want the Delegate to abstain from voting on this resolution.
  • Vote Present if you are personally abstaining from this vote.
Detailed opinions with your vote are appreciated and encouraged!

[TR][TD] For [/TD][TD] Against [/TD][TD] Abstain [/TD][TD] Present [/TD][/TR][TR][TD]12[/TD][TD]8[/TD][TD]0[/TD][TD]2[/TD][/TR]

Repeal "GMO International Trade Accord" was passed 11,317 votes to 2,913 (79.5% support).
 
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IFV - No Recommendation

Overview
"Repeal 'GMO International Trade Accord'” argues that the target proposal fails to implement and enforce proper regulations on member nations. The at-vote proposal points to several instances of “vague” and “weak” wording as well as several exemptions within the target proposal, and asserts that the aforementioned points allow for far too loose interpretations of the target and permits member nations to sidestep the effects of some provisions as well as penalties for noncompliance entirely, thus weakening the target and undermining the goal it aims to achieve.

Recommendation
The at-vote proposal makes several potentially valid justifications for repeal in its arguments that the target allows member nations too much jurisdiction in interpreting certain clauses through the use of the phrase ‘reasonable’ and that it fails to expressly require member nations to enforce regulations implemented by the committee established in the target. However, the proposal's other arguments center on the target's intentional omission of genetic modifications obtained through hybridisation and lack of regulations on intellectual property, which are arguably broad enough to be covered in separate proposals.

The Ministry of World Assembly Affairs will not issue a concrete recommendation for the at-vote General Assembly proposal "Repeal 'GMO International Trade Accord'", though we encourage individual nations to consider the above points when deciding how to vote.
 
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for because I'm too lazy to read it and see if I should come up with an argument for against
 
While I'm not a coauthor or the author of this, I'll be voting Present seeing as I'm the author of the target resolution.

The exclusion of genetic modifications obtained through hybridisation or selective breeding as a result of the limited definition of biotechnology, which pose comparable threats to the environment;
Really weird way to start. If you have a problem with a resolution not covering something... just write your own resolution? How does repealing the original achieve anything here?

The resolution’s failure to explicitly require member nations to enforce regulations created by the Committee for the Regulation of Modified Products, allowing for nations to easily dodge compliance of these provisions without penalty;
This was completely intentional, though I agree it is a weakness of the target. Still... what prevents another resolution from establishing these enforced regulations?

The vagueness of the term ‘reasonable’ that is used so often in regard to safety measures throughout the resolution, especially in sections 3 and 4, as the use of this term allows an excessively ambiguous and free interpretation of what is the best effort possible in the matter of safety. The term reasonable is in fact inherently relative in its definition and this implies that nations can set up measures as they see fit to their contingent situation, without any kind of control, thus making it possible for them to hugely disregard security when profitable;
Good point. Why not start with this?

The lack of regulations of intellectual property, thus granting undisciplined privileges to corporations and private institutions, like the possibility to stop outside research or create monopolies, which undermines the resolution's call for improving research and the exchange of information between member nations;
Genius! I'll just repeal WA General Fund for not legislating on the pay of poor poor accountants!

The presence, in section 4, of exemptions to unsterilized plants GMOs, since requirements like “in cases where the environmental benefit [...] clearly outweigh any downsides of their use” are loose enough to let member nations set their own policies without any way to ascertain the truthfulness of their reasons especially since there are no overseeing authorities;
That's kind of the point, though again, I agree it's a weakness.

I'm not opposed to a repeal of the target resolution. However, I just can't get behind this particular repeal.
 
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Against.

Reason:
Eywaan likes to set its own agricultural policy as free from international influence as possible. The existence of a weak provision for GMO regulation greatly reduces the likelihood of a stronger resolution being approved and overall, allows greater autonomy to nations. I suggest nations with similar goals should engage in such strategic voting.
 
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Against.

Reason:
Eywaan likes to set its own agricultural policy as free from international influence as possible. The existence of a weak provision for GMO regulation greatly reduces the likelihood of a stronger resolution being approved and overall, allows greater autonomy to nations. I suggest nations with similar goals should engage in such strategic voting.
lol
 
I am in favour of GMO so the repeal will free nations from their own affairs with regards to GMO. On the other hand, having weaker regulation means that there is the likelihood of no stronger regulation.
 
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I am in favour of GMO so the repeal will free nations from their own affairs with regards to GMO. On the other hand, having weaker regulation means that there is the likelihood of no stronger regulation.
It looks like mathematically that this will pass anyway. Present.
 
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