On 30 January 2000, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) was adopted in Montreal by delegates of 128 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This must be seen as a landmark in the development of multinational environmental agreements. With it the Precautionary Approach (PA) became the guiding principle for the import of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It subjects this import to an Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) and secured its legal status in relation to the World Trade Organization (WTO). By 15 September 2000, 75 governments including those of 44 developing countries had signed this environmental agreement. 