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4 Asia Pac. J. Envtl. L. 125 (1999)
Releasing Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment: Legal Concerns East and West

handle is hein.journals/apjel4 and id is 129 raw text is: Releasing Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment: Legal Concerns East and West John Candlish* Associate Professorial Fellow, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore Abstract Early concerns over the release of genetically modified organisms (OMOs) into the environment led to the development of ad hoc regulatory mechanisms against possible environmental damage. To date there is no report of environmental harm due to GMOs. This has reassured neither the general public or non governmental organisations and genetic engineering is as unlikely to be as free from sporadic disasters as any other human activity. In the aftermath of environmental harm from GMOs a number of branches of law are potentially available for restitution. These are discussed with reference to a theoretical crisis after a controlled release of a GMO. Most of these remedies, like actions for public and private nuisance, trespass and negligence, and Rylands v. Fletcher have to operate ex post facto, which is by consensus a deficiency in environmental law. Key Words Genetically modified organisms, safety regulations, negligence, nuisance This article reflects the law up until 1 January 1999. *The author would like to thank Professor K. L. Koh, National University of Singapore, for encouragement in this line of enquiry. ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, VOL 4, ISSUE 2 @ Kluwer Law International, 1999 125