The Precautionary Principle in GMO Regulation and in Certain Documents of Creation Care

Abstract

One of the key tools for protecting nature is conserving biodiversity and passing it on to future generations. Biotechnology is a regulatory area that affects biodiversity conservation and has already posed many codification challenges, while the use of new genome editing technologies raises new ones. The study describes the relevant international, EU and national regulatory frameworks for GMOs, which are essentially based on the precautionary principle. The elements of the precautionary approach in Catholic teaching on creation protection that can be applied to the regulation of biotechnology are highlighted. The paper then concludes by showing how COP 15 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework Convention on Biodiversity and Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' can be paralleled in their provisions on biotechnological activities.