1.   Because the United States never ratified the biodiversity convention, it cannot become a party to the biosafety protocol.

2.   But Washington did win language assuring that the biosafety protocol will not relieve a nation of its obligations under World Trade Organization rules.

3.   The developing nations and Europe wanted the biosafety protocol to be equal to WTO rules or take precedence over them.

4.   The new biosafety protocol is mainly concerned with protecting the environment from the consequences of genetic engineering.

5.   On several occasions, he has lead the Malaysian delegation in negotiations of biosafety protocol.

6.   The biosafety protocol would oversee regulations and manage the risks of handling plants and animals which have been modified through biotechnology.