Assessing the Impact of GMO Trade Regulations on Developing Economies

This report explores the impact of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) trade regulations on developing economies. It begins by introducing GMOs and the debates surrounding their environmental, social, and cultural implications. The research aims to evaluate how GMO trade rules affect developing nations, focusing on understanding GMO regulations, identifying the benefits and risks of GMO foods and crops, determining the necessity for these regulations, and assessing their impact on developing countries. The literature review discusses the disagreement among countries regarding GMOs, the benefits and risks of GMO crop trade (including increased productivity versus potential health risks), and the need for regulations to ensure product safety and quality. The research methodology employs a pragmatic philosophy, deductive research logic, and quantitative methods, using both primary data from questionnaire surveys and secondary data from case studies and journal articles to provide a comprehensive analysis of the topic.

Running head: INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
International Environment Law
Name of the Student:
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INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 1
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Background of the Research..................................................................................................2
1.2 Aims of the Research.............................................................................................................3
1.3 Objectives of the Research....................................................................................................3
1.4 Research Questions................................................................................................................3
2.0 Literature Review......................................................................................................................3
2.1 Concept of GMO Trade Regulation......................................................................................3
2.2 Benefits and Risks if GMO Crops Trade...............................................................................4
2.3 Need for GMO Regulations...................................................................................................4
2.4 Impact of GMO Relations on Developing Countries............................................................5
3.0 Research Methodology..............................................................................................................5
3.1 Research Philosophy..............................................................................................................5
3.2 Research Logic......................................................................................................................5
3.3. Research Approach...............................................................................................................6
3.4 Data Collection Method.........................................................................................................6
Reference List..................................................................................................................................7

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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Research
GMO or Genetically Modified Organism can be a plant, microorganism, animal or any
other organism which depicts the feature of a changed genetic makeup which is generally
performed in a laboratory. This operation is generally carried out through genetic engineering or
transgenic technology1. Through this process a combination of plants, bacterial genes and
animals can be created which does not occur normally in nature or through the traditional
methods of cross breeding. Presently the adoption of this genetically modified crops and foods
which have been created with the help of recent innovations in the genre of agricultural
biotechnology have also gave rise to a widespread debate about the environmental, social and
cultural risks and benefits associated with GMO. It has been observed that there are differences
in terms of the evaluation of the costs and benefits of GMO among different countries. This in
turn has given rise to the adoption of completely different environmental health and safety
regulatory programs for the GMO food and crops2. These regulation gain generated different
trade conflicts which again affected the economies of the developing nations3. This research
work will focus on developing an idea about how the GMO trade rules and regulations may
affect the economy of the developing countries.
1 Abbas, Shujaat, "Trade Liberalization And Its Economic Impact On Developing And Least Developed Countries"
(2014) 13(3) Journal of International Trade Law and Policy
2 Arnell, Paul, "Greening Trade And Investment: Environmental Protection Without Protectionism By Eric
Neumayer, 2001. Earthscan, 228 Pp, ISBN 1-85383-788-1" (2014) 10(2) Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management
3 Cooper, Richard N. and Thomas Bernauer, "Genes, Trade, And Regulation: The Seeds Of Conflict In Food
Biotechnology" (2014) 83(3) Foreign Affairs

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1.2 Aims of the Research
The aim of this research work is to evaluate the impact of the GMO trade regulations
over the developing economies.
1.3 Objectives of the Research
The broader objectives of the research can be summarized as follows,
 To develop a better understanding about the GMO regulations
 To determine the benefits and risks associated with the GMO foods and crops
 To identify the needs of GMO regulations
 To identify the impact of the GMO regulations over the developing countries
1.4 Research Questions
The research questions are also designed in accordance with the objectives of the research.
Hence the research questions can stated as follows,
 What are the GMO regulations?
 What are the benefits and risks associated with the GMO crops?
 What are the needs of GMO regulations?
 What is the impact of GMO regulations over the developing countries?
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Concept of GMO Trade Regulation
Due to the disagreement between the countries especially the developed and developing
countries regarding the environmental, social, cultural and ethical values of the GMO foods and
crops they have implemented different regulatory frameworks for controlling the GMO trade.
The GMO agricultural product exports from the countries that endorse the GMO production has

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been blocked by the jurisdiction of European Union as EU is skeptical or somehow oppose the
GMO farming. Moreover, on the other hand, with the emergence of domestic labelling and
traceability requirements and many more additional requirements which have been implemented
by the European Union is expected to inhibit the use of these GMO crops in the exporting
countries even where these GMO crops have been being consumed internally or being exported
to the third countries4.
2.2 Benefits and Risks if GMO Crops Trade
The production of GMO crops possesses certain key advantages which includes the
increased productivity of the agricultural sector, reduction of the need of pesticides or reduction
in the cost associated with the production of agricultural products. On the other hand, these crops
also possesses certain disadvantages as well. The GMO crops may harm the human health,
increase the risk of allergy or introducing toxic materials in human body5. However, with the
advancement in the technological aspects of the biotechnological agriculture presently a few
GMO foods and crops are being produced which are less toxic and cheaper than the alternative
products. On the other hand, corns and cottons are being genetically modified to incorporate a
protein which will only be harmful to the larval pests.
2.3 Need for GMO Regulations
In order to ensure that that the GMO products which are being exported to the different
countries are safe and secured numerous legal frameworks have been established. Which
includes the framework enacted by WTO, Codex and the other international standard set and
4 Goyal, Parul and Stuti Gurtoo, "Factors Influencing Public Perception: Genetically Modified Organisms" (2014)
1(12) GMO Biosafety Research
5 Nieddu, Maria et al, "Determination Of Four Thiophenethylamine Designer Drugs (2C-T-4, 2C-T-8, 2C-T-13, 2C-
T-17) In Human Urine By Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry" (2014) 24(16) Rapid Communications in
Mass Spectrometry

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biosafety protocols6. This is to ensure that the GMO foods and products are not exported to the
countries which have banned the use of it and the countries which are importing these goods are
getting the appropriate product of desired quality.
2.4 Impact of GMO Relations on Developing Countries
Due to the worsening of the food crisis the developing countries had embraced the GMO
technology. In the year 2007 the largest growth in the segment of biotechnology segment had
given rise to the plantation of GMO crops in the developing countries. However, the
implementation of the regulations regarding the production GMO, affected the developing
countries as there was a reduction in the level of exports.
3.0 Research Methodology
3.1 Research Philosophy
There are different research philosophies which can be followed in order to carry out a
research work effectively7. The present research work will be based on pragmatic research
philosophy which is a combination of positivism and interpretivism.
3.2 Research Logic
Researchers mainly use either deductive or inductive research approach for ensuring the
effectiveness of a research work8. In this case deductive research logic will be used through
which the researcher will obtain the desired outcome through using the theories and models
proposed by the previous researchers.
6 Goyal, Parul and Stuti Gurtoo, "Factors Influencing Public Perception: Genetically Modified Organisms" (2014)
1(12) GMO Biosafety Research
7 Danieli, Ardha and Carol Woodhams, "Emancipatory Research Methodology And Disability: A Critique" (2015)
8(4) International Journal of Social Research Methodology
8 Welman, J. C, Fanie Kruger and Bruce Mitchell, Research Methodology (Oxford University Press, 2014)

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3.3. Research Approach
There are mainly two types of research approaches which are qualitative and quantitative
research methods9. Qualitative research is nothing but the exploratory research method which
mainly uses the emotional opinion and views of the participants. In this case quantitative
research methods will be used which will collect the data from the respondents and transform the
data into numerical formats and thereafter analysis will be performed.
3.4 Data Collection Method
Primary data will be collected through questionnaire survey and the secondary data will
be collected through analyzing the case studies, journal articles and online sources.
9 Welman, J. C, Fanie Kruger and Bruce Mitchell, Research Methodology (Oxford University Press, 2014)

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Reference List
Abbas, Shujaat, "Trade Liberalization And Its Economic Impact On Developing And Least
Developed Countries" (2014) 13(3) Journal of International Trade Law and Policy
Arnell, Paul, "Greening Trade And Investment: Environmental Protection Without Protectionism
By Eric Neumayer, 2001. Earthscan, 228 Pp, ISBN 1-85383-788-1" (2014) 10(2) Corporate
Social Responsibility and Environmental Management
Cooper, Richard N. and Thomas Bernauer, "Genes, Trade, And Regulation: The Seeds Of
Conflict In Food Biotechnology" (2014) 83(3) Foreign Affairs
Danieli, Ardha and Carol Woodhams, "Emancipatory Research Methodology And Disability: A
Critique" (2015) 8(4) International Journal of Social Research Methodology
Goyal, Parul and Stuti Gurtoo, "Factors Influencing Public Perception: Genetically Modified
Organisms" (2014) 1(12) GMO Biosafety Research
Nieddu, Maria et al, "Determination Of Four Thiophenethylamine Designer Drugs (2C-T-4, 2C-
T-8, 2C-T-13, 2C-T-17) In Human Urine By Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry"
(2014) 24(16) Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry
Vigani, Mauro, Valentina Raimondi and Alessandro Olper, "GMO Regulations, International
Trade And The Imperialism Of Standards" [2014] SSRN Electronic Journal
Welman, J. C, Fanie Kruger and Bruce Mitchell, Research Methodology (Oxford University
Press, 2014)