The following general guidelines address the potential negative impacts that new biotechnologies may have if not carefully regulated in their development, testing, and use. Development of detailed guidelines at national, regional, and international levels should be a priority for the 1990s.

• Countries should develop the capacity needed to monitor and control new biotechnologies in advance of their development and testing.

• The dangers of releasing genetically modified organisms should be more carefully assessed, especially where genetic diversity is high.

• The importation of genetically modified organisms, plasmids, and other materials to any country should be strictly regulated.

• Biotechnology should be regulated to prevent excessive uniformity of plant and animal varieties that may arise through the use of new techniques, such as the clonal propagation of planting materials or embryo transfer in livestock.

• Biotechnology should not be developed, tested, or used for military purposes, such as biological warfare.

• Mechanisms should be established at both national and international levels to compensate and support farming communities and countries harmed when new biotechnology-based crops or products are substituted for existing ones.

• An early warning network, monitoring the socio-economic impact of biotechnology and its effects on biodiversity, should be established to prevent further marginalization of small farmers.

• An International Code of Conduct on biotechnology should be developed to regulate biotechnology at all levels.